Heeley has been hit by the loss of two high-profile friendly games

Worcester City manager Carl Heeley admitted having a second friendly called off in four days is a set-back to the club's pre-season preparations.

Bath City called off Tuesday night's match, after Cheltenham Town pulled out of a game on Saturday 24 July.

Heeley told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "It's a big disappointment losing games of that quality, though I sympathise with the situations of both clubs.

"But I am interested in Worcester City and it has knocked us back a bit."

City were able to arrange a replacement fixture for the Cheltenham match at Malvern Town, but they were unable to find a short-notice alternative for the Bath fixture.

Heeley has not given up on the prospect of setting up a further warm-up fixture but says it is proving very difficult.

"I have made many phone calls but teams have made their plans so you can't get them in," he explained.

"You wouldn't want them to let down their [scheduled] opposition so it is very difficult," he added.

City were comfortable 6-2 winners in the pre-season outing at Malvern Town, but the day was slightly clouded by an injury scare over striker Mark Danks.

I have made many phone calls but teams have made their plans so you can't get them in Worcester boss Carl Heeley

However Heeley said although he was concerned at the time of the incident, he is confident the problem is not as serious as it had appeared.

"He seems ok and obviously you are going to get knocks [in pre-season]," he said.

Worcester City have three further pre-season matches scheduled, in which they will take on AFC Liverpool at St George's Lane on Saturday 31 July (kick off 1500 BST) and Stoke City on Tuesday 3 August (kick off 1930 BST), before rounding off their pre-season programme with what is technically an away match against Evesham United on Saturday 7 August.

However as Evesham are currently ground sharing with City this match will also be played at St George's Lane.

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