JOINT-manager Carl Heeley has urged his players to show their fighting spirit in a bid to turn Worcester City’s season around.

City are level on points with third-from-bottom Corby Town, who snatched a 2-1 win at a stunned Aggborough.

Heeley described the defeat as “cruel” after a last-gasp howler from ‘keeper Ethan Ross cost his side a point.

However, he insisted it was important his squad pulled together and helped 18th-placed Worcester move clear of the drop zone.

“It is another defeat and very frustrating,” Heeley said. “But this is where we have to show character.

“I have just spoken to the players and said the easiest thing in the world is to get your heads down and quit.

“But it is now about standing up and being counted for and all pulling in the right direction because every attribute to win a game of football is within the squad.

“But the little things that really matter we have got to get better at because that is why we are losing games we shouldn’t be.”

Heeley backed Ross to bounce back after the West Brom loanee fumbled Kalern Thomas’ cross into his own net in injury time.

“We looked like we had the impetus to go on and win the game,” he said.

“But while football can be brilliant when it is going well for you, it can also feel like a very cruel game.

“Ethan is a young lad and will make mistakes. He will probably be disappointed with the first goal as well.

“But he has got a lot to learn and he will get our full support as we are not going to hang the lad out to dry.

“I have had a little word with him and said, ‘Keep your head up mate, that’s football, that’s life – you will make mistakes’.

“But it is about the character you show to bounce back from it.”

City’s home game with Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday night will be rescheduled due to their visitors’ FA Trophy commitments.

Heeley could have Lee Hughes and Wayne Thomas back for the trip to play-off chasing AFC Fylde on Saturday.