LICHFIELD City's season got off to a losing start as they went down 4-1 at Lower Breck.
The home side almost made a perfect start when Luke Gill fired a volley just wide of the target.
City keeper Tom Carter had to be alert on eight minutes to tip Elliott Hughes' effort round the post – and he then repeated the trick moments later before blocking the follow-up from Sam Burns.
Lichfield tried their luck from long range when Callum Griffin tried to beat the keeper from the halfway line but saw his effort go over the top.
But the hosts were enjoying the majority of the attacking chances and went close once more on 12 minutes when Burns rattled the crossbar before Carter denied Jak McCourt shortly afterwards.
Carter's busy afternoon continued as he tipped a corner onto the bar.
Lichfield's luck ran out just after the half-hour mark though as Will Lawson headed his side in front from a corner.
It was almost two three minutes before half time when Gill set Hughes away but he could only fire over.
Moments later and Lower Breck's attacking intent was on show once more as Alex Cherera fired against the crossbar.
City almost nabbed a leveller just before the half-time whistle when Joey Buckley's corner was headed off the line.
Boss Matty Lovatt rang the changes at half time and it looked as though Lichfield had got themselves an equaliser when subs Dylan Thomas and Kieran Francis linked up to find the net, but the offside flag denied them.
Lower Breck doubled their advantage on 55 minutes when Gill nodded home a Burns free-kick.
But City did get themselves back into the game just after the hour mark when Thomas' good finish found the net.
Carter's one-man battle with Lower Breck's attack continued as he produced another great stop to turn away Cherera's powerful strike.
Any hopes of a late leveller were extinguished deep into stoppage time when Gill finished off a cross from Dan McKenna at the back post.
Things got even worse moments later as City conceded a fourth when Cherera rounded off the afternoon with a fine solo goal.
