WORCESTER City ended a torrid run of four straight defeats as they held high-fliers Stockport at bay for a share of the spoils at Edgeley Park.

And while it was an excellent defensive display, joint manager Carl Heeley was quick to praise striker Lee Hughes on his debut.

“At 39 years of age and after running around like he did, we asked him if he was alright with five or six minutes to go,” Heeley admitted.

“He said he was fine and his work-rate and effort was really important to us. I wish I had been like that at 39.

“He is infectious and gives everybody a lift. He’s bubbly and his banter on the coach and in the dressing room relaxes people.

“But you get your credit from what you do on the pitch and to apply yourself and work hard and still have that desire is brilliant.

“Coming here, arguably the toughest place to come to in the league, you have to be defensively solid and resolute so we decided to go with two banks of four and defensively I thought we were outstanding and it was a real gutsy performance.

"Stopping the rot and being difficult to beat was the objective and we’ve done that.

“But with big Nik (Nikolay Todorov) and Hughesy up front we looked a threat as well and there were one or two opportunities for us."

City were without a number of players to the trip to one of National League North’s early pacesetters.

Ashley Vincent, Sean Geddes and Clayton McDonald were suspended, while Tristan Dunkley was unavailable. And that gave hope to Heeley as he looks forward.

He added: “We are not too far away and I think this football team will get better and better in the coming weeks.

"There were encouraging signs for us. We will be stronger with more options off the bench and I think that will be critical.

“Alex Gudger was solid at left-back and I thought Tom Sharpe used his experience and was good – but the entire team was good.

"That was the biggest game Kieran Morris will have played in by a country mile and I thought he acquitted himself superbly well.

“It’s not always about ability, sometimes it is about concentration and not getting fazed by the occasion.

"There has been a lot of improvement in those lads and with Sharpey’s experience hopefully that will help them develop their careers.”