ASHLEY Vincent insisted his pride in Worcester City’s performance had not been tainted by the last-ditch leveller that rescued a 1-1 draw for Westfields.

City edged the first half and dominated the second in Hereford, taking the lead in the 62nd minute when Jordan Harrison bamboozled Sam Rawlings in the box before being brought down.

The striker dusted himself down and coolly slotted the spot-kick low to the left of keeper Ian Havard.

Dave Reynolds had gone close twice before that with his replacement James Lemon stroking agonisingly past the far post one-on-one with Havard with seven minutes to go.

The sting in the tail arrived in the first minute of added time as the lively Aidan Thomas fired a rocket high across Sam Gilder into the top far corner from substitute Ollie Butler’s lay-off, netting with the home side’s only credible chance of the match.

“There is a real mix of emotions for me,” said Vincent, in charge in the absence of boss John Snape.

“The way it happened made it feel like a defeat because I thought there was only one team that looked like winning the game.

“Maybe it came into our heads that we had not been at the races so much apart from Saturday so they sat back a bit instead of trying to get the second goal.

“That said, I am delighted because over the past couple of games I have asked them to forget the football and just focus on work rate.

“What I mean by that is putting bodies on the line and having a fearless attitude in terms of closing down, not worrying about what is behind you or making mistakes.

“I have taken full responsibility for mistakes, missed chances or switching off at the end because I am asking them to play a certain way which sometimes can be all heart and no head.

“To a man the lads have shown over these two games they can do that and it was just unfortunate for them that the gaffer was not here to see it.

“When we do that side of things, we know we have an abundance of quality in our young boys.

“It is all ifs and buts but if we played like all season it would have been a different story.

 “Westfields are where they are in the table for a reason but there was only winner for 85 minutes. I am gutted for the lads, they were fantastic and I am proud of them.”

And Vincent was quick to dedicate two strong shows in three days to Snape.

“We have had two good performances while the gaffer has been away and I have made the boys aware, I don’t want the boys to feel like I am doing it,” he added.

“The gaffer picked the team, gave me his thoughts and I am sure he will be very proud.

“He takes a bit of stick, Snapper. In all the years I have been in football – and I played at some really good levels – you will do well to find a better man than him, that looks after his players and wants the best for them and for his club.

“You don’t always get that so he deserves massive credit because he works tirelessly for this club and I for one am very grateful to him.”

HOW THEY RATED

Westfields: Havard 7, Gwynne 6.5, Rawlings 6, Kahaki 6, Plane 7, Cooper 6.5 (Butler, 76, 7), Jones 6 (Hainault, 71, 6.5), Thomas 7, Mills 6, Miller 5.5 (Reeve, 76, 6), Stoneman 6.

City: Gilder 6.5, Andoh 5 (Sinclair, 60, 6.5), Weir 7, English 7.5, Caines 7.5, Hall 6.5, BATES 7.5* (Lockett, 73, 7), Attoumani 7, Harrison 7, Reynolds 6.5 (Lemon, 76, 6), Evans 7. Unused subs: Baldwin, Moran.

Referee: Paul Sparrow, 7.

Attendance: 288.