ST George’s Lane manager Carl Heeley was delighted to see Worcester City’s positive attitude pay off against Stalybridge.

With the game heading for a stalemate, substitute Marc McGregor popped up to turn Danny Glover’s injury-time shot into the net for a dramatic winner.

McGregor was one of three second-half changes as City followed up their victory over Boston United with another three points.

Heeley said: “Whoever we play, home or away, we are positive and attempt to win the game.

“Sometimes that will go against us and we’ll get beaten but we want to be positive and it’s paid dividends.

“It wasn’t a great game, it was scrappy and Stalybridge are a decent side, they came and had a real go. It was a very close, hard-fought game.

“I know it’s a cliche but sometimes you have to go and win ugly and that’s what we did. We have been caught enough times in the last minute to get beaten so it’s about time we got one go for us in the league.”

He added: “It was a fast and furious game and sometimes the midfield was missed out but I felt we dominated the second ball for the first 15 minutes and possibly should have been two goals ahead.

“Then we took our foot off the pedal and we allowed Stalybridge to take the initiative and they dominated the game pretty much up to half-time.

“I thought it was pretty even in the second-half but they key thing is you don’t get beaten if you keep a clean sheet. If ever there was a benefit of keeping a clean sheet then that was it when you get a late winner.”

Heeley was also full of praise for his medical staff after centre-half Rob Elvins recovered from a calf injury to put in a solid display.

The City boss said: “Rob was feeling a little bit of discomfort at the top of his calf.

“Steve Ball and Martin Obrey, however, did extremely well to get him fit and I thought he turned in an outstanding performance.”

But left-back Neil Cartwright missed out and Heeley added: “Neil is still struggling with his back, it’s a problem that’s frustrating for him.

“He had a fitness test before the game and he was honest enough to say he’d give it a go but he was feeling it so we decided not to risk him.”