AT the end of a difficult week for Worcester City that saw them lose influential talisman Tom Thorley to Hednesford Town, Carl Heeley’s men could count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from their trip to Harrogate Town, losing 2-0.

Fresh off three consecutive wins, the hosts were looking to make it a fourth but were more than matched by City’s slick passing game for a large majority of the match.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for a tale of three keepers, it is fair to say that all of the points could have travelled home with City.

The visitors found their passing game early on and created chances for Danny Glover and Aaron Williams, however, both times they were thwarted by blocks at the crucial moments.

Former Harrogate custodian Jose Veiga came to City’s rescue with a superbly-executed save to keep out Liam Hardy’s stinging low shot.

In a move that made a mockery of his 36 years of age, the former Tamworth player showed great agility to get down smartly to the drive.

City thought that they had taken the lead with 39 minutes gone when Williams steered a header towards the left-hand side of the goal from 10 yards out. However, Harrogate keeper Craig MacGillivray flung himself to his right and pulled off a great save.

The second-half saw the game open up more as both teams pressed for the opening goal.

City were good value especially on the counter, but looked out of sorts in defence and it was only due to the assured handling and kicking of Veiga that Harrogate didn’t register the first goal.

City fashioned chances, mainly through the impressive Kidderminster Harriers loanee Dior Angus, and it took some desperate defending by Harrogate to keep out rapid close range shots from Williams and Glover.

Fate has an annoying way of intervening, especially when your luck is out and, following a clash between Anton Brown and Veiga, the keeper had to be substituted with a leg injury and, a minute later, deputy Harry Ashton was picking the ball out of his net.

A quick exchange of passes on 74 minutes released Harrogate’s Chris Hall and hesitation by Ashton allowed the striker to nick the ball past him leaving Ashley Worsfold the easiest of chances into an empty net.

To City’s credit, heads didn’t drop and they should have drawn level minutes later when Williams found himself in the clear against MacGillivray, but Town’s keeper pulled off his second unbelievable stop of the game to push the effort wide at full stretch.

In a cruel ending to the game Harrogate scored their second with a minute remaining.

A reverse pass from Adam Bolder found Dominic Rowe to steer the ball home.