BEN Epsley’s late goal proved in vain as Bewdley Town suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat away at FC Stratford.
Epsley struck three minutes from time to reduce the deficit after Anthony Umoh and Ralfie Penton put Stratford in command at the Arden Garages Stadium.
The result means Bewdley sit eighth in the Hellenic League Division One table.
Town felt they should have had a penalty in the first half when Umaru Saho went down under a challenge in the box only for the referee to wave play on.
And Stratford made the most of that reprieve to take the lead on 31 minutes when Umoh sent a powerful header into the net.
The home side doubled their lead on 58 minutes as Penton forced the ball home after Bewdley failed to clear their lines.
However, substitute Epsley set up a grandstand finish on 87 minutes with an opportunist strike.
And the visitors almost snatched a point only for Luke Morris’s shot to come back off the crossbar before Jack Bailey curled a shot inches wide from a tight angle.
Bewdley travel to Evesham United Development on Tuesday, October 15 in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Spiers and Hartwell Stadium.
