Paradise Lounge were hit for six by league leaders Amington Rovers despite a battling display from the Lichfield side at Beacon Park.
Amington – who smashed Lichfield Social 11-1 last Sunday – opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark when a driven cross was bundled home at the far post.
Paradise, defending well all over the pitch, refused to be overwhelmed by the early pacesetters in Division 2 and were unlucky to be a goal down at half-time.
But the second-half was barely underway when centre-half Ben Lowe clattered Amington’s winger in the area and the referee pointed to the spot.
Prolific striker Simeon Smith converted from 12 yards and then, moments after the restart, Paradise were awarded a penalty of their own when player-boss Dale Harley was tripped inside the six-yard box.
Simon Owen stepped up and fired wide of the post in what proved to be, along with Lowe’s mistimed tackle at the other end, crucial to the outcome of the game.
A quickfire double increased Amington’s advantage before Harley pulled a goal back with a superb half-volley which followed a great move.
The Lounge came close to reducing the deficit further but Amington added two late goals to make the final score 6-1 to rampant Rovers.
Paradise player-manager Dale Harley, who made his first start of the season after a succession of injuries, felt the scoreline was an unfair reflection:
“This was always going to be a tough test and that showed from the start. I thought we matched them for much of the game and for periods we were the better team. We kept plugging away but just lacked the clinical finishing to match the hard work we put in.”
Paradise: Paul Webb, Lee Rafter, Paul Hill, Ben Lowe, James Wilkinson, Graham Welsh, Dale Harley, Adam Worthington (Nick Hill), James Coombes (Jack Lowe), Stuart Gauntlett, Simon Owen (Ben Hartshorne). Subs not used: Pete Burton, James Warburton, Jay Tomkins, Mark Morris.
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