PAT Lyons believes the disappointment of the Crawley defeat can spur them on to finish the season on a high.

The midfielder insisted the result had not left them disheartened but merely whetted their appetite to challenge for runners-up spot.

"We wanted to come here and put on a good display for the crowd and also try and get a result and make the league a little bit more interesting but that's gone now," he said.

"But we will keep going and start another run. We've had a little chat after the game and put our aims together for runners-up spot because I think we can do that and finish the season on a high.

"Everyone is still buzzing, we know we let ourselves down a little against Crawley but we just have to make sure we get as many points as we can and finish in second place."

No doubt one or two City players may have had a sleepless night on Monday, reliving the Crawley encounter. But there's little room for self-recrimination following the defeat, simply a realisation that they came up against a better side.

Francis Vines' team have proved a cut above the rest of their Dr Martens Premier Division contemporaries all season. Mind you, it helps having a £200,000 sponsorship deal tucked away in the back-pocket as the Reds have. That kind of money ensures you get the best, notably in the shape of the impressive matchwinner Charlie MacDonald.

City however have no need to feel inferior, quite the opposite in fact. John Barton's team demonstrated, in front of their biggest gate of the season, just what giant strides they have made this season - and in reality little separated the sides.

During a 25 minute spell either side of the break, City served up some terrific football but just failed to make the breakthrough.

More importantly City's valiant efforts might also swell attendances for the crucial run-in.

It's always been a bugbear of Barton that every time the club has had a 'big match' in front of a large crowd, City have never quite managed to do themselves justice, leaving floating fans to go away with a less than favourable impression.

The Stafford Rangers Centenary defeat in front of 2,000 plus fans springs to mind. But that was surely erased to a large degree on Monday evening.

Now the onus is on Worcester to wrap up the season in style over the next six games and set them up for next season's revamped Conference North or South, whichever they find themselves in.

Last season Barton watched helplessly as City lost four of their last six, while the season before, five of the remaining six games ended in defeat.

It can't happen for a third successive season. Can it?