EXPERIENCED strikers Lee Hughes, Deon Burton and Shaun Harrad all played a part at Alfreton Town and joint manager Matt Gardiner believes their arrival will help lift Worcester City out of the doldrums.

Hughes struck his third goal in two games and while it wasn’t enough to salvage anything in the 2-1 defeat, there were many positives according to the boss.

Gardiner said: “Lee has played Saturday and Tuesday but kept going right to the end. He’s scored the goal and at the end is chasing back to make a header.

“Deon showed his quality when he came on with his movement and Shaun will just get better and better with a run of games.

“These are good pros with great attitudes who will help the likes of Dan Nti and Tris Dunkley.”

City started slowly and found themselves two goals down inside the first quarter thanks to an excellent long-range strike from Ryan Wilson and a tap-in from Jordan Robertson.

But they improved and were the better side in the closing stages with 39-year-old Hughes and 38-year-old Burton leading the line.

Gardiner, whose side were denied by a late equaliser in a 2-2 home draw with Curzon Ashton last weekend, continued: “Saturday was obviously a kick in the teeth and I think that was carried over a little in the first 20 minutes but after that we’ve grown in confidence.

“Their first one was a great finish — 20 or 30 yards out and into the top corner — but we’re disappointed with the way we defended the second one.

“There were positives and going forward we looked really dangerous. So often we have missed that clinical edge, that cutting edge.

“Those four sending offs in the first five games have hampered us but we are starting to see the confidence come back that was there at the start of the season.

“Alfreton are a good side but we’ve rocked them. We could have gone under but we didn’t. We have lads learning the level and there were plenty of positives, including the way we kept our discipline with just two yellows compared to their six.”

Gardiner also praised the impact of teenager Dean Waldron, playing his first league game of the season having been out on loan at Halesowen Town.

“I thought he came in and showed lots of energy,” he added. “We have brought Jamie Smith and Dean back in. This time last year they weren’t quite ready so we’ve got them out playing and they’ve been brilliant.”

Worcester will visit Holbeach United in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday, September 26, after the south-east Lincolnshire club won 1-0 at Stourport Swifts in extra-time last night.