WORCESTER City’s failure to make the “key moments count” was the difference in their 3-0 loss at Salford City, according to manager Carl Heeley.

Nick Haughton, Mike Phenix and Scott Burton struck to steer Salford to a comfortable win in Vanarama National League North on Saturday.

But Heeley felt the match could have been very different if City had taken their “game-changing” opportunities.

After falling behind to an early Haughton goal, Lee Hughes hit the post and Tyler Weir was denied by Jay Lynch after being put clean through.

Trailing 2-0 following Phenix’s header, Cieron Keane then missed another “glorious chance” to cut back the deficit at the start of the second half before Burton sealed victory with a deflected 25-yard strike moments later.

“It was a strange game as I thought we started the brighter side,” said Heeley, whose side were stuck in traffic on the way to Moor Lane, forcing the match to be delayed by 45 minutes.

“We gave away a sloppy goal when we tried to play in a bad area, Ebby (Nelson-Addy) has had a bad touch and we went 1-0 down.

“But we then had two glorious chances. Hughesy could not have done much more as he hit the inside of the post, but then Tyler had another opportunity.

“These were game-changing moments and then we conceded from a set piece just before half-time which gave us a mountain to climb.

“But. even then, Cieron has had another great opportunity and we had a number of corners in the second half.

“But the game was dead and buried after the cruel deflection.”

Heeley was also frustrated with the officials after a “bizarre” situation which saw Lee Hughes booked for leaving the field before referee Kevin Mulraine had signalled for a substitution to take place.

“We asked if we could make a substitute and the game had stopped,” Heeley said.

“He (the referee) has given me an explanation, but it’s a ridiculous booking.

“He said he has had to do it, but had the game stopped, so how does it get to a point where we have a player booked as he’s come off the pitch?

“It’s bizarre.”

The defeat sees City slip a place to 13th, while Salford move up to 7th with a third victory in four games.

“They are a good side and they have taken their chances,” Heeley added.

“We have had a number of chances and we have not taken them and that’s the difference.

“If you look at the ball retention and the possession, we have had at least as much.

“But we have not made the key moments count and Salford have.”