MANAGER Carl Heeley admitted his Worcester City team were second best as their FA Cup run ended at Lincoln City.

The Blue and Whites were beaten 3-0 at Sincil Bank in last night's fourth qualifying round replay following Ben Tomlinson’s brace and Bohan Dixon’s strike.

It is the second season running that City have fallen at the final hurdle in pursuit of the first round proper — they lost to Bromley last year — but Heeley was honest in reflection.

“I thought we were second best,” he said. “It was always going to be a big ask and I thought we started really well but then we conceded.

“It was a decent goal from a good delivery and the second one, a minute before half-time, really changed the complexion of the game.

“We went for it in the second-half and went three at the back because we might as well have lost more heavily than not have a go.

“Realistically our chance was last Saturday and with 15 minutes to go at Aggborough it was a dagger through the heart when they equalised.

“We knew it was going to be a tough replay and unfortunately it’s come to an end.

“We defended really well and looked solid and it was up to them to break us down. On the counter-attack we broke with pace and it was just that final ball that let us down.”

He continued: “We’re a million miles away from competing with clubs like Lincoln but all I can ask is for the players to work hard and give everything they’ve got.

“They did that again and over the two games I couldn’t have asked any more from them.

“We were beaten by a better quality side on the evening and can’t have any complaints about that.

“The players are a bit deflated because they felt they did enough to win the game on Saturday.”