IT has been disappointing and frustrating to see our Blue Square Bet North campaign end the way it has.

Monday’s defeat at Hinckley United means we go into Saturday’s last match against Blyth Spartans without a win in our last seven league games.

If we had gained results this month like we’ve had pretty much throughout the season I believe we would have just finished in the top half of the table.

That doesn’t look like it’s going to happen now which is disappointing and I think it’s a bit of a let-down on what we’ve seen at times this season.

If you look at football generally, certainly in non-league, you have lots of teams that can be accused of going through the motions and not applying themselves correctly.

Up until half-time on Monday, I couldn’t accuse the players of not having a go and giving it their all. But I could in the second-half because I thought we were terrible.

It is very frustrating as a manager and a player when your team is petering out and just looking forward to the break.

Too often it’s happened at Worcester City and it is down to individuals.

It’s not right and the teams who are challenging for honours are the ones who have kept it going throughout the campaign.

In my playing days I absolutely loved playing football and I was dreading the end of the season because I’d have to have a break.

I tried to apply myself in every minute of every game, but that was psychological, it had nothing to do with ability.

Psychologically, players need to be stronger because it’s all about their individual application.

I don’t believe you can motivate someone to apply themselves correctly.

Doing that and working hard is something that should come as second nature.

I can set the scene for them but I can’t tell them to go and be motivated, that’s an individual thing and their own mindset.

It’s easy for me to say it doesn’t matter because we are not going down or going up and that’s correct, but there’s personal pride in performance.

Myself and Mark Clyde are not going to accept anything less.

If players want to be here in my team they have to play for the duration of the 42 league games.

If they’re not doing that then we have to question whether we are ever going to get success with them and maybe look to move them on if that’s not the case.

Even if players are looking to get a move to a higher level, people are still looking at them.

They’re not going to be impressed if they see them just throwing the towel in for the last six or seven games.

It’s a shame I’m having to say that because at times this season we’ve had wonderful glimpses of what a good side we can be.

At times the players have all shown they have got ability, although some have been more consistent than others.

But all too often we’ve shot ourselves in the foot and that’s disappointing.