MANAGER Carl Heeley says reaching the Conference North play-offs has to be Worcester City’s focus for the rest of the season.

The Blue and Whites’ fine run in both the major cup competitions came to an end on Tuesday with a 1-0 defeat to Halifax in the FA Trophy first round proper at Aggborough.

But on Boxing Day they host Hednesford Town (3pm) in the first of four league games in eight days as they seek to push for a top-five place.

Heeley’s side are unbeaten in their last eight Conference North matches and currently sit seventh in the table, just two points shy of the play-offs.

The Worcester boss said: “The positives we have to take from it now are that we’re in a good position in the league and we’ve shown some good quality and look a match for most teams in our division.

“We’ve got to try to push on now and get ourselves in the play-off places.

“We’ve got no time to dwell on the defeat and we’ll be ready to go again on Boxing Day. They’ve shown character all season and I’ve no doubts they’ll bounce back.”

City once again pushed higher-ranked opposition all the way at Aggborough on Tuesday but Halifax prevailed with Scot Boden’s strike five minutes from time.

Heeley said: “It was a scrappy game on a horrible, windy night and there wasn’t much quality in it. I thought we were the better side for the majority of the game, we created the chances but you’ve got to take them and we didn’t do that.

“I thought we caused them problems when we moved the ball but in the final third we weren’t clinical enough and that’s the reason we got beaten.

“It’s disappointing but we’ve just got to move on from it now. We’ve been terrific for many months now and we’ve got to get back on it again on Boxing Day.”

Wayne Thomas is expected to be fit to face the 10th-placed Pitmen after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

The match will also see former City captain Tom Thorley return to Aggborough for the first time since joining Hednesford in November 2013.

Heeley added: “He’s a super lad but he’s a Hednesford player now. I’m sure he’s looking forward to coming back here and playing against us but he’s part of a team we’re hoping we can beat.”