MARC McGregor grabbed the winner as Worcester City left it late to complete the first part of their six-point mission.

Manager Carl Heeley had targeted victories from both the St George’s Lane clashes against Stalybridge and Hyde, who visit tonight, in their quest to put pressure on the Blue Square Bet North top 10.

But, with 90 minutes up on Saturday, it looked as though City were going to have to settle for a point against the Mancunians.

That was until Danny Glover fired a shot towards goal in injury-time and McGregor, a 64th minute replacement for Matt Birley, bundled the ball over the line.

It sent City ecstatic — Glover also getting booked in the aftermath for taking his shirt off in the celebrations — and left Staly-bridge with no time to hit back.

Until then, had the game ended in a draw, there would have been few complaints from either side as the contest was scrappy and low on quality.

Worcester had the best chances, with Tom Thorley stinging the palms of Jan Budtz after four minutes and Kevin O’Connor doing likewise towards the end of the first-half.

Stalybridge, who had four players booked, squandered what opportunities did come their way, with Craig Hobson the chief culprit, but otherwise goalkeeper Dean Coleman didn’t have a meaningful save to make.

As against Halesowen Town in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup, City were below par at times but they have now won three in a row and kept back-to-back clean sheets in the league. Neil Cartwright’s failure to recover from a back problem forced Heeley to keep Graham Ward at left-back and the Irishman gave a typically tenacious display throughout.

Rob Elvins, fit again following a calf injury, was restored to the centre of defence alongside Ryan Clarke and barely put a foot wrong all afternoon.

Gavin Hurren, in the holding role, again allowed Thorley and O’Connor the freedom to push forward but City let themselves down in the final third.

Thorley had a fine chance to give the hosts an early lead but he blasted straight at Budtz and after that openings were sparse.

Jim Harvey’s men gradually came into the game but the closest they came to testing Coleman was Callum Warburton’s long-range effort, which was easily held by the keeper.

Hobson had an afternoon to forget as he twice took aim and completely missed the ball when well-placed, much to the delight of the home faithful.

As the half drew to a close, O’Connor was thwarted by Budtz and Thorley was unable to keep the rebound on target.

Hobson momentarily improved his shooting five minutes after the break, sending a volley on the turn inches wide of the post, before reverting to type and slicing horribly wide from the edge of the area.

With the breakthrough proving elusive, Heeley made his move, bringing on McGregor and Gary Walker for Birley and Thorley.

Walker gave City extra security at the back, while McGregor was no doubt deployed as a more physical presence up front.

But it was the introduction of Simon Richman with 14 minutes to go that seemed to provide the spark.

Richman replaced Tom Evans, who had taken a battering at right-back, and immediately used his pace to City’s advantage.

He was an outlet on the break and also had a header saved by Budtz with three minutes remaining.

Yet the Liverpudlian was on the periphery when the goal finally arrived.

Ward’s corner was only cleared as far as Clarke and the skipper headed the ball back into the box. Glover took aim from just inside the area and his shot was turned over the line by the predatory McGregor with virtually the last kick of the match.