MANAGER Carl Heeley could not fault any of his players after Worcester City claimed a last-gasp 2-1 win over AFC Telford United at the Victoria Ground.

Striker Colby Bishop was the hero as he came off the bench to slot home the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage-time.

Heeley had sympathy with Telford, who dominated possession and deservedly levelled on 77 minutes when Luca Havern cancelled out Lee Hughes’ early opener.

However, he insisted goals were “the only statistic that mattered” as Worcester celebrated their third successive home victory.

“I couldn’t fault anybody,” said Heeley, whose side rose a place to 12th in Vanarama National League North.

“It was a workman-like performance as they have all had to graft hard.

“At times we have had to get bodies behind the ball and be difficult to break down.

“But, apart from the goal we conceded and Ethan Ross’ save (towards the end), they didn’t cause us that many problems.

“You can be disappointed with how much of the ball they had but it isn’t 10-passes-a-goal. You have got to put the ball in the net and we have done that.

“We have stuck the ball twice in their net and they have only stuck it once in ours – and that’s the only stat that matters.”

It was the second match in a row 16th-placed Telford have conceded in the dying seconds having lost 2-1 to Boston United last week.

“It has got to be gut-wrenching for (manager) Rob (Smith) and (assistant manager) Larry (Chambers),” Heeley said.

“You will have spells where you will think the world is going against you.

“But that happens in football and they have been in the game long enough to know that.”

Lee Hughes opened the scoring with a cheeky backheel on nine minutes before Telford piled on the pressure.

But they only had Havern’s header from a corner to show for all their possession as City’s defence held firm.

“We had to work hard as they put us under a lot of pressure but we defended our box superbly,” Heeley added.

“We knew they would put in a lot of long throws and they are a major threat from set-pieces but, apart from their goal, we did brilliantly.

“I am disappointed to concede to a free header but, with the way we set up, we are a major threat on the counter-attack, so that game was not going to finish 1-1.”

Heeley was disappointed his team were not awarded what he felt was a “stonewall penalty” when Chekaine Steele appeared to get bundled over in the box.

“I have asked the referee and he said Chekaine pulled their player back which I find incredibly difficult (to understand) as he was three yards in front of him for most of that run,” Heeley said.

“But it was only when he got into the box that he dragged him back, so it’s a penalty, but it didn’t go for us.”