TEENAGE midfielder Joe Fitzpatrick insists Worcester City are not just in Vanarama National League North to make up the numbers.

The 18-year-old believes City will gain confidence from their 2-2 opening-day draw against Harrogate Town, who reached the end-of-season play-offs last term.

Fitzpatrick has joined City from Mansfield Town for the campaign and thinks Worcester can be challenging among the front-runners despite narrowly avoiding relegation last season.

“We are not here to mess about because we are here to be up there and I think we can be up there in the table this season,” said the central midfielder.

“We had a good result against Harrogate when we were not at full strength and a bit sloppy at times, so only good things will come from that.

“It was a good point against Harrogate but it was also disappointing to concede in the last minute, so you could see the match as two points dropped.”

The games will come thick and fast for City, who make the trip to rivals Tamworth tomorrow night (7.45pm) and face the challenge of a new 3G pitch at The Lamb.

City, at times, played enterprising football last Saturday and it could stand them in good stead against Andy Morrell’s Tamworth.

The Lambs drew 0-0 at Brackley Town in their opener.

“It was a good, flat pitch at Bromsgrove although it’s a bit dry at the moment because the weather has been hot recently,” said Fitzpatrick.

“I have played at Tamworth when they had the grass pitch there but they now have a 3G pitch and it will be good to see what it is like.”

Fitzpatrick played 77 minutes against Harrogate before he was replaced by Richard Batchelor and set up the second goal for Lee Hughes with a cross.

“I felt comfortable with how we played,” said the teenager. “It was a very scrappy game at times but we had to dig deep against a good side.

“As a team, we played well but are all still getting to know each other. We conceded two scrappy goals and still managed a draw, which must be a positive thing.

“We have a couple of other young boys in the team and I think it works well with the older lads like Lee Hughes, who is very clinical and always seems to score.”

During his junior career, Fitzpatrick spent a year-and-a-half in the academy set-up at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He spent last season with Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South side Carlton Town and Premier Division outfit Sutton Coldfield Town.

“I am still at Mansfield as an under 21s player so Worcester got in touch with me and said they wanted to see me,” he explained.

“I played a trial game, which went well and it went from there.

“I need to play men’s football and the whole point of me coming to Worcester is to get games and see how I cope. Hopefully, I can push on.

“The games are coming thick and fast, which I like, and we will see how it goes.”