CARETAKER manager John Snape believes Worcester City’s performance was “worthy of a point” in a 2-1 loss to Brackley Town.

After a slow start which saw Lee Ndlovu score inside the opening two minutes, Snape felt his side “smothered” mid-table Brackley.

Stand-in captain Tyler Weir netted a 21st minute penalty as Worcester “grew into the game” at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground on Tuesday night.

But Matt Barnes-Homer struck home on 68 minutes to secure Brackley all three points and extend City’s winless run to 18 matches in Vanarama National League North.

“I thought we were worthy of a point,” said Snape, whose side remain out of the drop zone on goal-difference.

“We did not start the game well, conceding a sloppy goal after a silly foul which allowed the ball to come into the box.

“They played the pitch a bit better than us in the first 20 minutes, but I thought we settled down after that and grew into the game.

“We got a penalty – hook or by crook it has gone in – but we have got ourselves back in the game and I thought we finished the first half the stronger.”

Worcester had plenty of possession in the second period, but Snape admitted they “did not have enough quality in the last third”.

“I would say for 70 or 80 per cent of the game we did that quite well and smothered them,” he continued.

“I was disappointed (with Brackley’s second goal) because it has come back off Vaughany (Nathan Vaughan) after he has made a good save and we have not reacted quickly enough to clear the danger.

“After that, I thought we huffed and puffed, but we did not have enough quality in the last third.

“I thought there were some tired legs out there towards the end and there was a little bit of time-wasting which I am obviously disappointed with.

“But compared to the second half (against Boston United) on Saturday I thought we did deserve a point.

“But when you are down there it doesn’t happen.”

Snape said he was also “surprised” by Brackley’s “very direct” tactics, but felt his side were guilty of playing “too deep”.

“They were very direct - more so than most teams which was surprising as they do play some nice football,” Snape added.

“But we didn’t deal with the forward coming off and getting in the hole as we were too far forward in terms of our positioning.

“I thought we were a little bit too deep at times which creates your own problems.

“We stuck at it in the second half, but the second goal was a killer. It has been in most games and we have struggled to get back from that.”