Heeley: Harriers show is standard (From Worcester News)

Heeley: Harriers show is standard

7:00am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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WORCESTER City caretaker manager Carl Heeley wants his players to replicate the performance against Kidderminster Harriers in their battle to survive in Blue Square South.

City lost the FA Trophy last 16 derby clash 1-0 at St George’s Lane on Monday night with Chris McPhee’s 53rd-minute strike proving decisive.

But Harriers did not have it all their own way and saw forward Marc McGregor, who suffered a hamstring injury after 22 minutes, crash a first-half volley against the post as the hosts got stuck in.

Heeley is demanding that effort for the rest of the season as cash-strapped City bid to avoid relegation, starting at Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday.

His team are 18th in the table, one point above Hampton and Richmond, who have three games in hand, and Lewes in the relegation zone.

“I have told the players the Harriers game is our benchmark,” he said.

“We were beaten after having a real good go but we have to put that in every single game from now until the end of the season because that will win us more games in our division than we will lose.”

He added: “I was disappointed by the result but thought Kidderminster were the better side in the second-half. They passed the ball well and showed the difference in leagues.

“But we had our opportunities and on another day, with a stroke of luck, we could have been two goals ahead at half-time. It wasn’t to be but the boys have done themselves proud.”

The match was watched by a season-high crowd of 1,693 and generated much-needed revenue for the club in the region of £10,000.

City can swell their coffers further with five more home games to come before the month is out.

Chairman Anthony Hampson said: “It was a good crowd. We would have liked to have had a least a draw, which I think we deserved, and a replay would have been good. But it’s not to be. We’ve got to focus now on the league games.

“Certainly, the feel-good factor is coming back to the club and I’m delighted with the way it’s going and that the supporters have got behind City.”