Shenstone travelled to Smethwick with a depleted squad as a spate of injuries hit left them with eight first team players unavailable.
However, the Pathfinder management team will not have accepted this as an excuse for their poorest display of the season.
Smethwick were quickly into their stride in the early stages and were soon putting the visitors under pressure. Shots rained in on keeper Prince who did well on a couple of occasions to deny a lively Ricky Sandhu.
Shenstone looked to be getting a foothold in the game when they were hit by another injury blow with Dan Chattwood limping off with a recurrence of the knee injury that had kept him out of his sides first few games for the season.
Pathfinder were unfortunate not to take the lead from a corner that saw skipper Adam Simpson head narowly over, but it was Smethwick who felt more aggrieved not to be leading at the break.
The second half saw the visitors gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead, Smetwick centre back Inderpaul Khela was caught in possession on the edge of his own box by Finkle who, with only the keeper to beat, fired wide of the far post.
That chance was to be Pathfinder’s last real threat on the home goal and Smethwick soon edged ahead when good work down the right by Sandhu saw a low cross turned in by Jakeet Gill.
With the game nearing its conclusion the referee awarded Smethwick a controversial penalty after a tackle by Ben Cribbett felled Sandhu, but the home player dusted himself down to make no mistake from the spot.
Shenstone’s misery was complete when Jimmy Daniels was sent off for a second bookable offence with virtually the last kick of the game.
Pathfinder will be hoping for better next time out when they face Penncroft at home on Saturday (September 3), kick-off 3pm.