MANAGER Carl Heeley praised the efforts of his players as injury-hit Worcester City beat Gainsborough Trinity to climb to 10th in Conference North.

City had no fewer than eight players unavailable through injury and suspension, including Wayne Thomas (back) and Mike Symons (hamstring), for the Aggborough clash but went on to record their 13th win of the campaign.

Heeley said of his threadbare squad said: “Looking in the changing room before we picked the side there were as many players sitting there injured as we’ve got available to us.

“Credit to the boys who played, it wasn’t pretty, the pitch was really dry and bobbly but we won the game and kept another clean sheet. Considering how many big players we’ve got missing, we’re delighted with that.

“They put a great shift in the other night with 10 men for a large proportion of the game and they’ve scrapped it out again, stuck to their tasks and won the game against a side who are battling for their lives. They’re never easy games.

“I thought Gainsborough seldom troubled us. They probably had more possession than us in the second-half but I can’t remember Ryan Boot making a save, it was just bread and butter stuff for him.

“We can’t do any more than we’ve done with what we’ve got available, but I don’t want to do the boys who played an injustice.

“They put an exceptional shift in, they’ve won the game and they’re in possession of the shirts at the moment but it would be nice to have some players back and give us some alternatives.”

Tristan Dunkley’s third-minute goal was his sixth of the season.

The City boss added: “He’s been a revelation since he’s played through the middle. He’s naturally a wide player but his pace worries teams to death and his goals return is really good.”