Football
We haven't given up on play-offs, insists Heeley

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WORCESTER City boss Carl Heeley says his side will not give up on their play-off dream while it still remains mathematically possible.

A frustrating 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Hinckley United on Saturday has left City with only a remote chance of sneaking into the top five of Blue Square Bet North.

Heeley's men are four points adrift of the play-offs with just two matches remaining and are now relying on an unlikely set of results to go in their favour.

But, after seeing Omar Bogle’s equaliser 12 minutes from time deny Worcester victory, a frustrated City boss insisted his side could still make the play-offs.

"While it is still mathematically possible we have a chance," Heeley said.

"It's frustrating because I felt this was an opportunity where we should have seen the game out and got three points, which would have made it incredibly interesting. But we are still in there and it looks like the season is going right to the death so that's a refreshing change and something to look forward to."

"Who knows - there are teams who have just dropped points and they will drop more in the last two games, but that doesn't mean anything unless we win our own games. We know what we have to do and we'll see where it takes us."

Heeley was frustrated at the way his side conceded the late equaliser, with City's defence backing off Bogle and allowing the striker time to thrash an unstoppable shot past keeper Matt Sargeant.

The City manager also lamented the condition of the St George's Lane pitch which has forced City to abandon their more attractive style of play.

"If you look at the pitch it has got plenty of grass on it but it has had probably 100 games on there and with the greatest respect you are not going to be able to maintain that over eight or nine months and play that much football," he said.

"It's frustrating because we are a fluid footballing side and we like to get the ball and keep it but you can't string two passes together before it seems to bobble up and come off your shins. We have had to try and change our style to adapt to the pitch and generally when that happens they are scrappy encounters."

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