Lichfield City FC’s bid for a place in the final of the Staffordshire Vase saw them fall at the final hurdle against AFC Hanley Town.
Paul Holt’s men were beaten 1-0 in Stoke-on-Trent in a bruising encounter which lacked in real quality from either side.
Lichfield were forced to make two changes to their forward line due to Ahmet Bilgimer and Benn Minshull being cup tied, the latter also picking up a serious injury in the week ruling him out for the rest of the season.
It was apparent early on that the game would be a war of attrition as both midfields went toe to toe with each other and in a dour encounter City never created anything of note in a poor first half.
Lichfield were also dealt a double blow in a five minutes period during the first half when centre midfield duo Danny Worrall and Liam Holt both had to be replaced because of injury.
The game’s only piece of real quality came two minutes before the break, a fine 25 yard strike from Hanley’s Martin Stanyard whistled past Craig Johnson in the visiting goal – a goal which would ultimately settle the encounter.
For all of Lichfield’s possession in the second half, they huffed and puffed against a resolute Hanley defence, a Nick Harris free kick that cannoned back off the woodwork was the closest they came to getting back on level terms.