REDDITCH United were knocked out of the FA Trophy at the second round stage after the Reds were beaten 2-1 away at National League South side Chelmsford City.
Lewis Hudson scored a late consolation for Redditch after Jamie Yila and Kain Yearn put Chelmsford into a two-goal lead either side of the break at Melbourne Stadium.
And Chelmsford hit the woodwork just three minutes in when former Premier League striker and Canada international Simeon Jackson headed onto the top of the crossbar.
Redditch responded when a free-kick forced City goalkeeper Jacob Marsden into a save before Jackson blazed over when well-placed to score at the other end.
However, the home side broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when Yila fired home after Chelmsford kept the ball alive at the far post.
Reds midfielder Max Sheaf was next to be denied by Marsden from a free-kick before Danny King’s powerful effort forced the Clarets goalkeeper into a fine fingertip save.
Another chance came and went for Redditch when King’s cross clipped the top of the crossbar before Bernard Mensah somehow failed to turn the ball home from yards out as he shot wide of the post.
The home side could have added to their lead shortly before the break as Tom Blackwell shot narrowly over the bar before Jackson chipped an effort wide.
Chelmsford eventually doubled their lead on 48 minutes when Yearn fired a low shot across goal and past Kieran Boucher despite the Redditch goalkeeper getting a glove to the ball.
And Boucher then made a good save to keep out Blackwell’s effort before Reds substitute Jerell Sellars saw a long range effort pushed around the post by Marsden.
The Reds eventually halved the deficit three minutes into injury time when Hudson poked home from Sheaf’s inviting free-kick but it proved too little, too late, as Redditch were knocked out of the competition.
Earlier this week Redditch’s fixture with Stratford Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Redditch are next in action away at Leiston on Saturday, November 26 with kick-off at 3pm at Victory Road.
