ASSISTANT manager Matt Gardiner said conceding two goals in four first-half minutes put paid to Worcester City’s chances of success against Harrogate.

The visitors, already trailing 1-0, shipped a second goal in the 39th minute and saw their defence breached again just two minutes before the break.

Gardiner, in charge of the team while Carl Heeley stayed with wife Vicky following the birth of their baby daughter, said: “I thought we were well in the game after the first goal but I am disappointed with the way we conceded the second and third so quickly together.

“I thought if we’d just managed that a bit better and got through to half-time we would have been in the game.

“Those two goals really cleaned us out.”

He continued: “As a group there were a couple of areas where Harrogate were getting at us, we tried to change it but it didn’t quite happen.

“Individual concentration levels weren’t great and we’re desperately trying to stamp that out.

“We defend as a team and attack as a team, it’s about us and unfortunately we weren’t quite good enough in the first-half.”

Gardiner also refused to blame the atrocious surface, which was only passed playable under an hour before kick-off.

“The pitch is an easy excuse,” he said. “It wasn’t ideal and we’ve had to get used to it but it was the same for both teams so we’re not going to use that as an excuse.”

On the birth of Heeley’s daughter, he said: “Everyone from Worcester sends their congratulations and everyone’s pleased for them.”