JUBILANT Worcester City manager John Barton admits a mood of optimism surrounds the club following their FA Trophy success against Aldershot Town.

The St George's Lane club reached the third round with a rousing 1-0 home win in front of 1,500 spectators on Saturday and go into the hat for the draw which takes place at Liverpool's Anfield ground later today.

Barton's team appears to have put a glut of lack-lustre displays behind them with back-to-back wins and City's boss was delighted with how they adapted to Terry Brown's surprise starting formation.

"Aldershot caught us a little bit by surprise with the formation they played," he said.

"Probably the two key areas were whether our back four could handle their front three and if we could get enough possession to Adam Wilde and we managed to do both.

"Clear-cut chances were few and far between, but we looked capable of stealing a goal and when it came it was excellent.

"I'll never be complacent and think we've turned the corner because this game always beats you, but there is a lot of hope and optimism around the club at the moment.

"As always it's down to the players and I've still not worked out why managers cop so much criticism because it's on the pitch that things are decided.

"From that point of view all eleven delivered against Aldershot and since July have shown an excellent response to the peaks and troughs we've experienced so far.

"Even when we had the troughs we've still managed to get something from the game."