LITTLETON could not follow up their Worcestershire FA Senior Urn heroics in a thrilling 5-4 defeat at secondplaced Nuneaton Griff.

They beat Midland Alliance outfit Stourport Swifts 3-2 after extra-time in the midweek county competition and had a strong wind at their backs in the first-half at Nuneaton.

Littleton had difficulty measuring their passes but took the lead on 11 minutes when Will Gayton hooked in from 12 yards after Stuart Hall knocked down Callum Clarke’s pass.

The opener was cancelled out by a harsh penalty after 15 minutes of the St Mary’s Hospice Midland Combination Premier Division clash.

Matt Mitchell’s diving header then crashed against the bar and the hosts broke quickly to take a 20th-minute lead through an own goal.

Play continued to go from end to end but Nuneaton went 3-1 up with a clever back-heel from a corner.

On 52 minutes, the scoreline was increased, however, Littleton’s Kyonn Evans was twice denied by Nuneaton man-of-the-match Dave Watson in goal.

The pressure paid off on 70 minutes when Hall dispatched a powerful shot on the turn but this was cancelled out by a Nuneaton fifth following an inswinging corner.

Undeterred, Littleton continued to attack with Hall scoring again on 80 minutes and Watson pulling off a fine save.

On the stroke of full-time, a sweet Clarke half-volley made it 5-4 and there was still time for a Steve Edghill flick to hit the post and roll agonisingly clear.