WORCESTER City joint boss Matt Gardiner has urged his side to pick up as many points as they can in the closing stages of their National League North campaign.
The Blue and Whites kicked off two home games in five days on Tuesday (April 5) with a 3-1 win against Bradford Park Avenue before they welcome Stockport County to Aggborough on Saturday.
And Gardiner, together with fellow boss Carl Heeley, hopes the side continue to pick up points to keep clear of the Vanarama National League North trapdoor.
“The next few games are important, especially as we are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday between now and the end of the season,” said Gardiner.
“The good thing is we are scoring goals and if we can cut out some of the mistakes which are making I think we’ll have enough to finish safely. We have got seven games left and our message to the players is ‘let’s pick up as many points as we can’.”
Gardiner said the management team and players were left with ‘mixed emotions’ after Saturday’s 3-3 away draw at title-chasing North Ferriby United.
City took the lead at the Humberside outfit through Deon Burton’s 30-yard effort, which was then doubled by Lee Hughes after the evergreen striker latched on to Kyle Perry’s header.
Ferriby hit back just before the break with a Liam King penalty after Sam Minihan brought him down.
After the break, Ferriby pulled level through Danny Clarke and City’s hopes of a point looked over when the Yorkshire outfit took the lead on 73 minutes with a strike from Tom Denton.
However, Walsall loanee Jordan Murphy stepped up to the mark and secured a point for City with an equaliser in the closing stages.
“It’s definitely a case of mixed emotions, being 2-0 up and finding ourselves 3-2 down is disappointing but to come away from a top six team with a point is a positive,” Gardiner said.
The draw continued City’s impressive recent record against teams in the top six which has seen them avoid defeat against many of the National League North promotion contenders.
“It’s down to confidence, when we have all of our squad fit and available we are more than a match for anyone,” Gardiner said.
“We haven’t been able to do that so often this season and that is why we are where we are.”