CARETAKER assistant boss Danny Jackman believes Worcester City’s players will be able to “express themselves” now they have ended their 18-match winless streak.

City secured their first Vanarama National League North victory in more than four months with a 1-0 triumph against Stalybridge Celtic at Altrincham's Moss Lane on Saturday.

Jackman admits the win is a big confidence boost in their bid to stave off relegation and reckons it has given Worcester a “licence” to play with more freedom.

The Blue and Whites are two points above third-from-bottom Gainsborough Trinity with six league games remaining.

“Knowing that you have got that win now takes the pressure off the lads,” said City’s skipper.

“It will give them a licence to go and express themselves a little bit more.

“When you are losing games, your confidence does take a definite hit and you would do things that you probably would not necessarily do if you were high in confidence.

“You would perhaps pass when you should shoot, so hopefully it gives the players confidence because we performed really well in spells (against Stalybridge) especially in the first half.

“With a little bit of cutting edge, we could have had a couple of goals.”

Jordan Murphy struck three minutes after the break and Jackman was impressed with their “togetherness” to see the game out.

“Yes we rode our luck in the second half as they hit the inside of the post,” Jackman said.

“But I thought we earned that a little bit of luck with our work rate and togetherness.

“In recent weeks we have not had that luck whereas on Saturday we had it and we have finished on the positive side of the result.”

Despite his vast experience, the 34-year-old admitted he had his doubts whether City would get the rub of the green to taste victory again this term.

“Even when you get older, you still wonder when that little bit of luck is going to turn for you,” said the midfielder.

“I have been through spells where it has been hard to get a win.

“But you just have to keep plugging away and not try to think about the run that you have been on and just think about the next game.”

Although pleased to get the three points, Jackman insisted it was important there was no let-up in training.

City take on 18th placed AFC Telford United at the New Bucks Head Stadium on Saturday (3pm) where they will come up against Lee Hughes.

The veteran striker scored 33 goals in 57 appearances for City before leaving in early February.

“I was pleased with the performance at the weekend but let’s move on and show that level of commitment again,” Jackman added.

“We have got to keep it going as we are not good enough at this level to be able to switch it on and off.

“We need to train the way we play with high intensity.

“We will work on a game plan this week and hopefully execute that next weekend.

“Obviously we know Hughesy will be there, so we will be very mindful of a player of his quality.

“But we will work on a few things and keep the lads’ confidence up.”