WORCESTER City are making “life incredibly difficult” for themselves, insists manager Carl Heeley whose side lost for the fourth time in six matches on Saturday.

Chorley striker Marcus Carver shrugged off centre-back Tom Sharpe before lifting the ball over Nick Draper on 69 minutes to claim a 1-0 victory at the Victoria Ground.

The defeat leaves City, who face Stockport County at Edgeley Park tomorrow (3pm), just one place off the bottom of Vanarama National League North.

And unhappy Heeley insisted his players only had themselves to blame for their lowly position after a succession of “poor defensive displays”.

“When you are consistently defending like we are, you don’t deserve anything,” he said.

“With the exception of Halifax, we have set ourselves up with opportunities to get points in all of the games.

“But every single week we seem to be shooting ourselves in the foot and making life incredibly difficult and challenging for ourselves and that was the case on Saturday.

“From a defensive point of view, it was a very poor goal to concede.”

Forward Jordan Murphy forced goalkeeper Sam Ashton into an early save while midfielder Danny Jackman sent a dipping half volley narrowly over in the first half.

But without experienced striker Lee Hughes, who is serving a three-match ban following his red card against Halifax Town, Heeley feels City are struggling to provide much of a goal threat.

“We didn’t work their goalkeeper at all in the second half,” he said.

“We huffed and puffed, but the quality in the final third was missing and without Hughes we don’t look like scoring goals and we are really missing him.”

He added: “All of the things we are talking about are of our own doing: (whether that is) poor defensive displays, not being able to concentrate for 90 minutes or moments of stupidity to get yourself sent off.

“Life is difficult enough without shooting yourselves in the foot and we are consistently doing that.

“We can talk about formations and selections.

“But until do the basics in the game well or better then we are going to be having conversations like this again.”

Kidderminster Harriers conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Boston United in Vanarama National League North.

Harriers took an early lead when Joe Robinson diverted the ball into his own net but Boston levelled through Joe Maguire.