WORCESTER City may have shipped three goals but manager John Snape lamented a lack of sharpness at the other end after Saturday’s defeat at Highgate United.

Snape acknowledged defensive errors during “a terrible 15 minutes” had proved costly in the 3-2 setback but added a misfiring frontline and “alarming” refereeing decision to the rap sheet.

It was City’s third Midland Football League match without victory, resulting in a slide to sixth in the Premier Division standings.

“We have taken one point from three games and that is not good enough, we are better than that,” said Snape.

“There were spells when we had a large amount of possession, we passed the ball very well on a tricky pitch and at times we have been fantastic but the cutting edge has not been there.

“The front players are a bit out of sorts. It is disappointing but at the same time, it does happen.

“Nick Turton has been out injured long term, Kyonn Evans has been in and out and James Baldwin had a couple of good chances.

“The fact our right-back got both goals paints a picture of what we did in the final third.

“I would not say the lads let themselves down but we did not manage the game at 1-0 up. The equaliser cost us dearly and changed the game.

“There were also some very funny decisions which I found alarming but we have to put that behind us and get ready for Tuesday’s trip to Long Eaton.”

Snape felt Highgate’s McCauley Manning was “maybe lucky to stay on” following an alleged stamp that saw City’s Jamie Smith withdrawn through injury at the end of a “very physical” first half.

City’s gaffer was “not sure” if Luke English’s lobbed opener was meant but the joy was short lived.

“From there we had a terrible 15 minutes, conceding a very sloppy goal straightaway which we have talked about,” said Snape.

“We then went gung-ho and a lack of communication led to us getting threaded for the second goal.

“After that, we started to get back on the ball, dealt with some very physical challenges and created one or two chances.

“The third goal was the killer. I didn’t know what we were doing, it was a bad goal from our point view in terms of the shot coming in and the way it was handled.

“Again, we lost it for five minutes where we went too long but got ourselves another goal back and battled to create a couple of half chances.

“You cannot go away from home and concede three goals. On the flip side of that, it can’t be your right-back scoring your only two goals.

“The problems are quite evident. Hopefully they will be addressed very soon.”