DEBUTANT Isaac Godwin saw red before half time as Bromsgrove Sporting slipped to a 1-0 derby defeat against Worcester City.
Godwin’s Rouslers debut ended prematurely in first-half injury time after the Shrewsbury Town loanee picked up a second yellow card at the Victoria Ground.
And Brandon Smalley’s goal on 61 minutes inflicted back-to-back home defeats on Sporting with Tim Flowers’ side winless in four games.
The result means Bromsgrove sit 18th in the Southern League Premier Central table, two points above the relegation zone.
Sporting went close early on as Luke Benbow superbly brought down a long pass only to flash a shot inches past the post from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
Worcester had the ball in the net on 35 minutes after Ellis Litherland could only parry Charlie Lutz’s low effort from distance and Matt Richards turned home the loose ball.
However, the assistant raised his flag for offside to cut the Worcester celebrations short.
The Rouslers almost broke the deadlock shortly before the break as Sam Kane tipped Niall Flint’s audacious rabona attempt behind with the ball destined for the top-left corner.
The game turned on the stroke of half time when Godwin picked up a second yellow card after catching Luke Rowe in the head with his boot.
Worcester created a flurry of chances early in the second period as Josh Ezewele saw a shot blocked while Connor Stanley curled a shot narrowly wide from 25-yards out.
And Lutz then beat the offside trap and raced through one-on-one with Litherland only to shoot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
However, the visitors eventually broke the deadlock just past the hour mark as Smalley turned home Josh Bailey’s cutback from the left on the volley from eight-yards out.
Sporting had a chance to equalise late on only for substitute Jack Kelly to shoot tamely straight at Kane from a promising position in the box.
Bromsgrove are next in action against AFC Sudbury on Saturday, February 28 with kick-off at 3pm at the Victoria Ground.
