CARL Heeley believes Worcester City will achieve their goal of Skrill North survival if they continue to demonstrate their battling qualities.

The City manager highlighted both the defensive effort and strong character of his players as they climbed out of the relegation zone in beating play-off-chasing Harrogate Town 1-0 at Aggborough.

He has now called for more of the same as they continue their bid to pull further clear of the dropzone, starting against Solihull Moors on Boxing Day.

He said: “We know we’re in a scrap and we know it’s going to be tough but we’ve got some good characters who can focus on one game at a time.

“We can’t get carried away. We’re chuffed to bits about winning but it’s three points and there’s a long way to go.

“Experience tells us that we’ll have many more battles and we’re going to have to do well in a lot more games. But I am sure with some of the characteristics we’re showing we’re going to be OK.”

Ebby Nelson-Addy scored the decisive goal against Harrogate but City also had to fend off a barrage of late pressure.

“We certainly had to work hard for it,” said Heeley, who opted to play Matt Regan at left-back instead of Tyler Weir. “They’re probably the best side we’ve played this season and I thought we defended superbly well, certainly in the second period.

“Defending as a team has probably been the biggest positive of our season, as we’ve been difficult to breach.

“We didn’t work any harder than in other games but in both penalty areas we were far, far better.”

He added: “I wasn’t happy after the Oxford game or at Aldershot, I was disappointed in us defensively so I swapped it around.”