LICHFIELD City secured the victory in a bank holiday battle with Sutton Coldfield – despite playing most of the fixture with an outfield player in goal.
An early injury to Brendon Bunn meant Luke Childs had to don the gloves, just days after scoring the winner in his side’s previous outing.
But the switch didn’t put Ivor Green’s men out of their stride as a Joe Haines cross narrowly evaded three City players closing in on goal.
City’s stand-in stopper made his first contribution when he pushed away a cross from beneath his bar.
Lichfield broke the deadlock when Jack Edwards’ free-kick was spilled by James Wren and Leighton McMenemey was on hand to nod the ball over the line.
Sutton Coldfield tried to hit back but saw Childs make a good close range stop with his foot and then produce another save at his near post.
The City goalkeeper was being kept busy with another header kept out before Jamie Spiers did well to clear an effort off the line.
Lichfield nabbed a crucial second goal early in the second half when Edwards cut inside a defender before firing the ball beyond Wren.
Childs produced another save, but could do nothing to prevent Sutton Coldfield from halving the deficit when a long range strike Zazi-Bope Zazi found the net.
Edwards almost bagged his second of the afternoon when his corner clipped the bar, while Spiers saw a shot from inside the box go wide.
City keeper Childs produced another save low to his left as the visitors went in search of a leveller, before he was relieved to see a header go over and shot deflect past the upright.
Sonny Sheasby almost bagged a late third for Lichfield though after he broke clear but could only fire an effort against the post.
