MIDFIELD maestro Liam Lockett was credited with orchestrating Worcester City’s late comeback at Long Eaton United.

Manager John Snape felt the second-half substitute, a product of the last season’s under-21 set-up, changed the course of a match that had started ebbing away from City.

Lockett kept his cool in a busy box to tuck in the leveller following good work by James Baldwin and was involved in the move that led to Jordan Harrison being brought down for the decisive 89th-minute penalty at Grange Park.

And Lockett was not the only one to be lavished with praise.

“The introduction of Liam Lockett was something a bit special,” said Snape.

“His distribution, quality and close control was as good as I have seen from a lad of his age for a long time. The ball seemed to be stuck to his feet.

“Sometimes he struggles against the bigger, more physical senior players at this level but he is a talent this club should cherish and we really do need to look after him. He changed the game.

“Riley (Keasey) was a bit special too, his distribution and the way he fed James Baldwin was excellent in both halves. George (Forsyth) was immense at the back as well and took his penalty very well.”

Snape declared himself content with City’s performance despite the close shave and the shipping of a sloppy goal just before the hour marks.

“I thought we set after them in the right way in the first half and that opening 20 minutes was as well as we have played,” said Snape.

“We were probably guilty of not quite making the most of it in the final third, James Baldwin got in about four or five times and squared the ball without us getting on the end of it.

“There was a goal disallowed, we had a couple of corners that came to the edge of the box and we have missed the target.

“We counted 12 or more efforts at goal with eight on target, more than we had in the whole of Saturday’s game (the 3-2 defeat at Highgate) so we were much improved.

“Their goal was a disappointment. We got caught overplaying on the right when we had the chance to deliver and then got done by a long, straight ball.

“I could only see one of their players in our half when they scored. We had three around him and the goalkeeper to beat.

“In a game that I felt we dominated in terms of possession and chances, we found ourselves 1-0 down.

“We went totally erratic after that. That gave them a boost and while I wouldn’t go so far as to say we played with fear, our heads went down but there was a crunching challenge that went in which seemed to change the mood a little bit.”

The win sees City up to fifth in the Midland Football League Premier Division, ending a run of one point from three outings.

“We made the statement in the dressing room afterwards, we need to be winning games,” Snape added.

“While that doesn’t mean we have to go gung-ho, it is the draws that have probably killed us more than defeats, especially at home.”