BEING consistent has been Worcester City's Achilles' heel in recent seasons.

Beating high-flying opposition one week and losing to habitual relegation candidates the next. At times they have been consistently inconsistent.

It was a trait that reared its ugly head from time to time during the Andy Preece era and was perfectly demonstrated in what turned out to be the former Bury boss's last two games in charge.

Having recorded a 2-1 home victory against Southport, City went and helped their manager through the exit door with a 5-0 thrashing at Hucknall.

Yet, until the last two games this month, fans have been spared such back-to-back results and performances under Richard Dryden.

Then came the no-show ag-ainst lowly Hucknall followed in stark contrast by a much improved display, certainly in the second-half, against play-off candidates Nuneaton, a side Worcester had previously failed to live with this season.

It's a puzzler, and hopefully a one-off, because coming up this weekend is the double header against fellow play-off chasers Hyde United and the visit of struggling Vauxhall Motors 48 hours later.

Worcester's assistant manager Carl Heeley seems to re-gard it as a blip but insists the team need to guard against a repeat.

He said: "I think the Hucknall game wasn't acceptable, we weren't happy with the performance.

"But, in all fairness to the lads, I think it's probably the only time we've felt they haven't really had a go so we have to give the benefit of the doubt. They've set their own standards so when they fall below them they're going to get criticism.

"We went and got a result at Nuneaton, we beat Southport and Harrogate, which argua-bly are two of the toughest places to go in the league, so the boys have proved that they're good enough. It's just the consistency.

"With respect, we have to be consistent and beat the teams that we're expected to beat.

"Where we've probably fallen down a little bit is against the sides who we're expected to beat but there are no easy games in this league, it's tough. If you're not on your game you are going to get rolled over by any side. Anybody can beat anybody."

Heeley also believes there is plenty of time for Worcester to shape their destiny this season.

As well as Hyde, they still have play-off contenders Stalybridge and Burscough to face before the end of March.

"While it's mathematically possible, we've got a chance," Heeley said. "We've still got games to go and we still can play a part but we need to strive to get a little bit more consistency. We'll give it our best shot and keep plugging away.

"We've got to go to play a lot of the sides who are in and around us, it's going to be a tough ask but strange things happen when teams have got to play and win games under pressure. Who knows? We have a chance.

"As long as we apply ourselves well and we have a right good go we won't be far away."