MANAGER Richard Dryden chose to focus on the positive aspects following Worcester City’s defeat against Redditch United.

James Blake’s 39th-minute strike condemned City to a 1-0 Worcestershire FA Senior Cup exit at St George’s Lane, watched by 298 fans, and handed them their third cup loss of the season.

Worcester have now lost at the first attempt in six of their last seven cup competitions, with their only success since January 2007 coming in last season’s county cup.

However, Dryden is not overly concerned and is remaining upbeat ahead of a return to Blue Square South action at Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday.

He said: “I’m disappointed to go out of the cups but the positive — because there is so much negativity around the club during games and when the games aren’t being played — is we are eighth in the league and we’ve still got the trophy to play for.

“Dave Bampton and Matt Dodd getting 90 minutes was another positive and the way we played in the second-half was too. Redditch are a big, physical side and they put the ball in good areas.

“They have got a lot of pace too, but I think we dominated for long periods in the second-half.”

Dryden added: “I was very disappointed with the first-half competitively.

“It was probably Bampton and Danny McDonnell who were our best players in that half and that said a lot as Bamps was trying to break everything up in midfield and Danny was pulling off saves.

“When you make five changes it’s a little bit mix and match sometimes and I think that showed during the first-half. The second-half was a different story, we had them penned in and we put lots of crosses in. We just couldn’t find the finishing touch.”

Dryden was also pleased to see his players come through the game unscathed as they prepare for the next two matches.