Boss Gary Birch shuffled his Lichfield City pack ahead of his side’s Staffs Vase final tie on Monday.
A number of first team players were left behind as the Brownsfield Park side travelled to Southam.
Despite the changes, City still started brightly with Ashley Bennett denied by a good save in the opening exchanges.
The Lichfield striker had another chance blocked before he blazed the rebound over.
Jordi Singh was next to go close before Southam reminded City of their threat when a free-kick was cleared off the line.
The breakthrough eventually came when Southam’s Suki Nijjar scrambled the ball home with half-an-hour on the clock.
The goal sparked a period of pressure from the home side and Lichfield keeper Ryan Moore was called into action on a number of occasions to ensure his side didn’t fall further behind.
City started to come back into the game with Tom Evans firing wide from the edge of the box before Bennett wasted a good opportunity after breaking through the Southam backline.
The second period saw an even opening with Chris Bull heading over and Evans failing to get his effort away in the box.
Southam thought they’d doubled their lead only for the referee to signal a foul on Lichfield keeper Moore.
City continued to push for a leveller but were caught out two minutes from time when Tunde Ajibade sealed the victory.
Lichfield’s attention will now turn to Monday’s Staffs Vase final at Stafford Rangers against Sporting Khalsa.
