MANAGER Carl Heeley says there is plenty for Worcester City to be optimistic about despite their opening day 3-1 defeat to Altrincham.

Danny Glover’s stunning volley gave City the lead in Saturday’s Skrill North encounter at Aggborough before second-half strikes from Damien Reeves and substitutes Kyle Perry and Carl Rodgers completed the comeback.

But Worcester’s new-look team produced a good display, particularly in the first-half, and Heeley was delighted with their efforts.

The City boss said: “They are good players but the learning curve was Altrincham punished us with their chances and we didn’t take ours because the game would have effectively been over.

“It’s easy to be critical and say we could have done this and that better but that’s football, you’ve got to be realistic.

“The best players in the world will have lapses and make mistakes, these boys are no different but we’ll stick with them and they will improve.

“We will get better as we familiarise ourselves with our new home.

“I couldn’t have asked any more of them, they gave everything they’ve got, were committed and unfortunately the substitutions and the extra quality was the difference.

“There are lots of positive signs for me, they didn’t get their heads down and neither did myself, Matt (Gardiner) or John (Snape).”

Off the field, director Mike Davis hailed the club’s transition to Kidderminster, following 108 years at St George’s Lane, as a triumph.

As well as attracting 714 fans, he was pleased with the way everything from the collection of season tickets to hospitality had gone.

Davis said: “I think it went really well, the only disappointment was the result but even then I thought we performed well.

“I don’t think Kidderminster could have been any more helpful than they have been. It’s been really good.

“I was very pleased with the crowd. Somebody said to me last Tuesday that they reckoned there would be 700 there and I wasn’t so sure so it’s very good.”

Heeley added: “I don’t think we really knew what to expect but I think the match-day experience at a modern stadium was very good.

“Kidderminster have been super hosts and made us feel really welcome.

“It’s going to take us time to adjust but it was a good experience.”