LICHFIELD City fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup as they crashed out at Hanley Town.
Ivor Green’s men had plenty of opportunities but were made to pay the price as they conceded three first half goals.
It meant Tom Brown’s second half strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation for Lichfield.
Hanley were quickest out of the blocks with a number of early efforts putting City keeper Brendon Bunn under pressure.
Lichfield eventually found their feet with Jamie Spiers seeing an effort blocked before Joe Haines powered a drive from distance narrowly over the top.
But Hanley drew first blood when a long throw on 25 minutes saw Lewis Porter fire home after being teed up by Eden Bailey.
City went in search of a leveller as Dan Lomas and Jude Taylor both saw efforts cleared away at the crucial moment.
Brown had an even better chance when he went through one-on-one, but could only fire his shot at home keeper Michael Shorthouse.
The miss was to prove costly two minutes before the break when Bailey fired into the top corner to make it 2-0.
The misery wasn’t over for Lichfield in the first half though as Porter bagged his second when he lofted the ball over Bunn from distance.
Boss Green threw on Luke Childs and Kevin Hemagou in the second half as Lichfield looked to find a way back into the tie – and it almost worked as the latter cannoned a header off the crossbar.
Childs then played his part as he found Edwards who crossed for Brown to nod home and make the scoreline 3-1.
Lichfield forced a succession of corners as they turned the screw in the second half, but the home side held firm as Taylor and Brown both headed over the top with a stubborn Hanley defence ensuring it would be they who took their place in the next round of the FA Cup.
