MANAGER Carl Heeley criticised the referee for not giving 10-man Worcester City a “stonewall penalty” in the dying moments of their 2-1 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers.

The Aggborough hosts claimed the bragging rights in a heated Vanarama National League North clash as Lee Hughes saw red against his former club.

But Heeley believed Worcester should have been awarded a spot-kick by referee Richard Wild in stoppage time after Chekaine Steele appeared to be brought down in the box.

“Chekaine was eight yards from goal, just about to shoot and goes to ground,” Heeley said.

“You don’t do that as he has got the opportunity to score and Chekaine told me he had his legs taken away and for me it looks like a stonewall penalty.

“But it hasn’t been given yet again and that’s very frustrating.

“You could say the referee has had a good game but he is there to make big decisions that change the result and for me it is a poor decision because I cannot for the life of me see how he has not given that penalty.

“So we can talk about his performance for 89-and-a-half minutes but the decision that matters he has got wrong.”

City, who held high-flying Harriers to a 0-0 draw at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground on Boxing Day, took the lead on 23 minutes thanks to a good finish from midfielder Junior English.

But Kidderminster’s pressure told in the second half as James McQuilkin netted the equaliser on the hour mark before Worcester defender Sam Oji diverted Sam Austin’s delivery past his own keeper Ethan Ross with 11 minutes left.

Despite the result, which sees City slip a place to 17th, Heeley insisted he “could not criticise” his players.

“It was very similar to the first game,” Heeley said.

“Kidderminster had the lion’s share of possession and they kept the ball really well but we kept our shape and it looked like we were going to frustrate them.

“They got a bit of a deflection for the first goal and the second one was unfortunately an own goal.

“It was a difficult afternoon for us but I can’t criticise the boys as they have worked very hard and I think if the referee makes what is probably the easiest decision of the afternoon in the last minute we get a penalty.

“I am frustrated for the boys and our supporters because for the endeavour and what we’ve put in we were very unfortunate to be beaten.”

Heeley said he was also “frustrated” by Hughes’ sending off towards the end after the experienced forward appeared to kick out at Elton Ngwatala.

The player now looks set to be banned for four games.

“The only disappointing thing is the players got frustrated at the end,” added Heeley whose side will also be without Oji for three matches after he was dismissed in the previous encounter against Kidderminster.

“We have picked up another red card which doesn’t help us in the coming weeks and that’s the only real disappointment other than the result.

“But I can’t ask for a lot more as they have given everything they have got.”