
Just like the reverse fixture, the Blues were 3-0 down by half-time, but unlike last time, the visitors stood strong and saw out their win.
James Taylor and Jayden Cotterill both got onto the scoresheet, but it was not enough.
This loss leaves us 14th, just eight points clear of relegation and seven points away from the play-offs.
Brad Munn made two changes to his side as Kyle Burke was named in the starting 11 for the first time since his transfer and Connor Pace also returned replacing Jahvan Davidson-Miller.
Lewis King took up his position in goal and commanded a backline consisting of Burke, Cotterill, Jamie Hanson and Elliot Hartmann.
In midfield, Pace returned and started alongside James Taylor and Coden Duncan.
Tristan Thompson-Matthews filled the left winger position with Dexter Walters on the opposite flank and Evan Garnett through the middle.
The bench was made up of Jake Finnerty, George Atwal and Davidson-Miller.
The Blues started positively as Pace and Walters both came close.
Unfortunately, the visitors, a theme that carries out through the rest of the game, took their chance early on. A corner ball saw Robbie Ellis rise highest and head the ball into the net in the 11th minute.
We almost got one back right away through Thompson-Matthews and Garnett, but the Bourne Town goalkeeper saved Garnett’s close-range effort.
In the 33rd minute, Ellis was played through on goal and chipped King inside the box.
Six minutes later, King produced a brilliant save to deny Richard Jones’ header.
However, three minutes before the break, the visitors had their third. Zac Allen was through on goal and slotted it in past King.
Being in this position already this season, it was like the script had already been written. Two minutes into the second half, it really felt true as Taylor let a thunderous strike loose as he found the top left corner.
Just five minutes after the first, Burke, on his first full start, recreated Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous miss on the goal line vs Sheffield United. A ball across goal by Garnett was almost too perfect as Burke blazed it over the bar.
Finnerty was the substitute brought on for Hanson in the 57th minute.
A minute later, Bourne Town scored their fourth. Lewis Darlington ran onto a loose ball and chipped King.
On the hour mark, Cotterill gave us hope. Walters’ short free kick found Garnett. The latter flicked it goal ward with Cotterill putting his laces through it.
Cotterill almost had a second with an audacious effort. On the half volley, Jayden let one loose outside the box, but it flew just wide of the bottom left corner.
He could have had a hat-trick as in the 72nd, Cotterill hit the post with a header.
Burke’s first full game came to an end in the 74th as he was replaced by Atwal.
Hartmann was booked for a late challenge in the 82nd minute.
Duncan was replaced in the 85th minute by Davidson-Miller.
The visitors scored their fifth in the fourth minute of injury time. Darlington’s low strike beat King and sealed the defeat at home.
Our next game is at home on the final day of the month against Lichfield City.
Match Report: Damion Arnold
Match Photos: Richard Gadsby