PATIENCE was key to Worcester City’s dramatic 3-1 triumph over 10-man AFC Telford United on Tuesday night, according to manager Carl Heeley.

Dave Hibbert put the hosts ahead in the FA Cup tie on the half hour mark with a 25-yard strike, but City came storming back after Jonathan Royle was sent off.

Worcester got the equaliser on 66 minutes when Cieron Keane’s cross took a big deflection off Jack Rea and looped in.

With five minutes to go, Chekaine Steele smashed the ball home from close range before Lee Hughes netted in stoppage time.

Heeley hailed the result as a “super victory” as they now move into the third qualifying round where they will take on Brackley Town at the Victoria Ground on Saturday, October 1.

And Heeley praised the way his players responded after falling behind at the New Bucks Head.

“I thought we played really well,” he said.

“We went behind to a great strike from Dave Hibbert.

“But we said at half-time you have got to be patient, keep passing the ball, keep moving it around, don’t go long and we did exactly that.

“When they went down to 10 men, it was easy for them to get camped in there and make it difficult for us to break them down.

“But we decided to keep our width rather than go three up front and just keep working the flanks and getting the full-backs overlapping.

“We were very patient, got ourselves level and after that there looked to be only one winner, so we are delighted.

“If we had taken our chances on Saturday, we would have won the game then, but we came here, it was a tough old game and we are on the fortunate end of a victory.”

Telford had chances to extend their lead at the start of the second period as Connor McCarthy forced a good save from Ryan Boot before missing another good opportunity moments later.

But when Royle received a second yellow card on 54 minutes, the momentum shifted and Worcester made the numerical advantage count.

“It is sometimes more difficult when you play against 10 men,” Heeley continued.

“You are always susceptible to the counter attack, so we defended terrifically well.

“Apart from Hibbert’s strike and the save by Ryan Boot, I thought we rarely looked like getting breached.

“We have got a lot of energy and a lot of fit boys in the side and you could see in the last 20 minutes we were a threat and we looked like causing teams problems, so that’s a super victory.”

City, who are on a six-match unbeaten run, return to Vanarama National League North action on Saturday when they host Nuneaton Town (3pm).