WORCESTER City “got what they deserved” after Stockport County struck twice in the last 10 minutes to snatch a 3-2 victory at Aggborough.

That was the view of a frustrated joint-manager Carl Heeley who also questioned his central midfielders’ bravery in the closing moments.

A first half brace from Lee Hughes either side of Kayode Odejayi’s 19th minute header put City on course for a crucial win in their battle to avoid the drop in Vanarama National League North.

But Stockport refused to give in and produced a stirring fightback as Chris Smalley levelled before John Marsden secured all three points with an 87th minute winner.

Heeley said it was “criminal” for his side to let the lead slip away and believed their inability to keep attacking midfielder Marsden quiet was their undoing.

“When there are 10 minutes to go and you are 2-1 up at home, you should be getting something out of the game,” he said.

“But we have lost it because Stockport have changed their shape a little bit and none of our central midfielders wanted to take responsibility for their number ten (Marsden).

“They had enough warnings and they still didn’t do it, so he pops up and scores the winner.

“I am disappointed with us as nobody was brave enough with 20 minutes to go to get on the ball and keep it.

“We just wanted to surrender possession by trying to hit 40 or 50-yard balls.

“Our better footballers keep possession and try and get higher up the pitch, but we never did that as we kept giving it back to Stockport and the result was we were penned in our own half for long periods.

“Technically we have got some good players, but they went missing.

“We were trying to run with the ball when you have just got to keep it, pass it, move, keep it, pass it, move.

“That’s what we do well, so I am surprised to be standing here saying that, but we have failed to do that.”

Fifteenth-placed City are now four points above the relegation zone and Heeley insisted his players need to improve if they are to steer clear of trouble.

“We had a couple of breakaway opportunities in the second half, but we have not done enough all over the park,” Heeley said.

“In all honesty it looked to me like it was a case of when Stockport were going to score, not if Stockport were going to score because we could not get out of our half very often.

“Stockport were strong in the last 20 minutes and they have given us what we have deserved as we didn’t do what I spoke about.”