MANAGER Carl Heeley expects Worcester City to start 2015 on a positive note when they take on Hednesford Town today (3pm).

The Blue and Whites brought the curtain down on a memorable 2014 with defeat at Tamworth — their first in the league for more than three months.

But prior to that, they had gone eight matches unbeaten in Conference North, stretching back to September 20, and until the Scunthorpe FA Cup defeat had gone 14 without defeat in all competitions.

Heeley said: “We were always going to lose a game, it’s about bouncing back from it. The last time we got beaten in the league was at Fylde, having also lost at Stockport before that, and the response we had to that was brilliant and we are looking for something similar. I expect us to respond.

“Hednesford are a good side and it’s always been tough for us at Keys Park but we have got to try to take something from the game.”

The Tamworth loss dropped City to ninth in the table but they are still only four points shy of the play-offs and have games in hand on the teams above them.

One of those has come as a result of the Boxing Day clash against Hednesford needing to be replayed after referee Andy Hendley abandoned the contest with 15 minutes to go and the Pitmen leading 3-0.

Heeley said: “If there’s any ill feeling, it shouldn’t be towards Worcester City,” he said. “As much as people think we can, we can’t control the weather or a referee’s decision.

“In my opinion the game should have been stopped a long time before it was. Quite frankly, any ill feeling towards us would be immature and lacking knowledge. We are coming in for a lot of criticism and we shouldn’t have any.

“The referee asked me what I thought of the pitch and I said it wouldn’t hold up and I wasn’t the only one to tell him that.

“I can understand their fans’ frustration because they were winning. It was the correct decision, just miles too late.”

Keeper Nathan Vaughan (groin), midfielder Danny Jackman (knee) and defender Shabir Khan (illness) are all expected to be fit after missing the Tamworth match.

Meanwhile, City have signed striker Connor Collins from Fairfield Villa.

The 20-year-old has scored 24 goals in 18 games for the Midland League Division Two side.

Heeley is also hoping to have a new full-back for the home game against Bradford Park Avenue on Sunday, January 11, a fixture that has been put back 24 hours due to Kidderminster Harriers’ involvement in the FA Trophy.