WORCESTER City boss Carl Heeley has praised his players for their competitive spirit ahead of their FA Trophy first round clash away to lowly York City.
The Blue and Whites travel to Bootham Crescent on Saturday fresh from a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of big-spending National League North leaders AFC Fylde at the weekend.
A Cieron Keane free-kick wasn’t enough to earn a point against the visitors who again sealed victory thanks to the prolific Danny Rowe, whose brace took him to a staggering 29 goals for the campaign.
Heeley felt his side were ‘incredibly unlucky’ not to take a point off the leaders who have scored 61 goals in 20 league games, the most in the top six levels of English football.
Rowe fired Fylde ahead on 39 minutes with a 20-yard strike before bundling in a second right on half-time after Ethan Ross initially pulled off a stunning save.
Keane cut the deficit from a free-kick on 54 minutes and Colby Bishop had a chance to level after a mistake from defender Josh Langley, only for keeper Rhys Taylor to smother his shot.
“We could have rolled over but the lads had a right good go in the second half and got back into the game,” said Heeley. “I couldn’t ask for any more from them having competed with the best side in the league in my opinion.
“I thought we had the impetus after Cieron’s free-kick but the final ball was lacking somewhat and maybe we made the wrong decisions in some situations,” he added.
City have a break from the National League North as their road to Wembley continues in the FA Trophy this weekend.
Having beaten Curzon Ashton in the last round, Heeley’s man travel to Yorkshire to face a York side enduring a miserable season after they dropped out of the Football League last term.
The Minstermen are currently bottom of the National League with just three wins in 24 games in a season which has seen them sack former manager Jackie McNamara, only to then appoint him as chief executive alongside new boss Gary Mills, the former Tamworth manager.
Heeley will await news on top scorer Lee Hughes who missed the game with AFC Fylde with a knee injury while Jordan Keane will press for his second start after impressing on his debut at the weekend.
The former Nuneaton Town man, brother of Cieron, is primarily a defensive midfielder but can play in a number of positions.
Saturday’s clash kicks off at 3pm. Should a replay be needed, the game will take place on Tuesday (December 13) at 7.45pm at the Victoria Ground.