DELIGHTED joint-manager Carl Heeley took aim at Worcester City’s critics after Daniel Nti fired his side to an impressive 3-2 win over promotion-chasing AFC Fylde.

Nti netted with eight minutes to go at Kellamergh Park as City refused to crumble after letting slip a two-goal advantage.

Heeley said he felt people had started to question his and Matt Gardiner’s judgement after three poor performances and a string of departures, including captain Ellis Deeney.

However, after stunning Fylde, Heeley said the “outstanding” result proved they had the character and the quality to steer clear of the drop zone in the Vanarama National League North.

“We lost our captain and three or four big players have left the football club in the last four of five weeks, so the negative people are waiting to criticise us and have little sly digs,” he said.

“Well, for all those people and for the superb fans who followed us to Fylde, that is what we are about.

“We have got character on and off the pitch because every single one of those players were absolutely top draw and it should have been more convincing.

“I think Fylde are a super side as they pass it really well, but we were better than them and we deserved that win.”

Worcester-born Danny Jackman claimed the captaincy off Deeney and Heeley insisted the spirit in the dressing room had never been better.

“All you ask from people is do your best and give everything you have got and we had 11 players out there and the three boys who went on gave everything they have got and you win a game of football,” said Heeley, whose side climbed two places to 16th.

“That hasn’t always been the case, so I am confident in that changing room now everyone is pulling in the right direction and that’s a great trait to have and I am absolutely delighted and proud of them all.”

Worcester were also without Tom Sharpe (illness), Lee Hughes (thigh), Nathan Vaughan (suspended) and Jordan Murphy, who was at a family funeral.

But Heeley added: “I have never had any doubts against Fylde.

“I think it does not take long for the rumblings of discontent to start happening, but we have been around for a long time and we know the drill here.

“We know what we are up against and we know what we have to do.

“It is great to win games of football, but the belief in my own ability, Matt’s own ability and the belief in our players has never wavered and it never will.

“If we need to make a change of personnel we will do, but the belief in our own ability will never ever diminish.”

n There was disappointment for Pershore Town who slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against Coventry Copsewood in Midland League Division One.

The visitors took the lead just after half-time when Connoll Farrell slotted home after racing on to a long ball.

Former Pershore centre-half Matt Mitchell broke an arm following a collision with his own goalkeeper in the 70th minute.