GOALKEEPER Ethan Ross “responded well” after his opening day “blip”, admits Worcester City boss Carl Heeley.

The West Bromwich Albion youngster’s two howlers cost City dear last Saturday as Harrogate Town snatched a 2-2 draw.

Heeley could have handed the number one jersey to Nick Draper at Tamworth on Tuesday night, but he instead kept the faith in Ross.

And he felt the 19-year-old, who is on a long-term loan from the Premier League club, bounced back well despite losing 1-0 at the Lamb Ground courtesy of a late goal from Jack Lane.

“You all have days which you would rather forget and Ethan has had one on Saturday,” Heeley said.

“But he responded well on Tuesday evening and I thought he looked reasonably assured.

“You are all allowed a blip and it would have been a bit harsh to fetch him out after one game.”

Grimsby-based Draper, who joined in the summer, has been left to bide his time on the bench despite featuring several times pre-season, but Heeley said: “Nick will get an opportunity, but when he gets that he has got to take it and stay in the team.

“That’s the same with everyone else, whatever position they play in.”

After making a surprise appearance last weekend, new midfielder Richard Batchelor, who has recently returned from the Caribbean following a family bereavement, was an unused substitute against Tamworth in midweek.

Heeley added: ““He is a player that we want to get involved as soon as we can.

“But he has had one training session in a month, so we have to get him up to speed first and go from there.”