TENBURY United player-manager Nick Stocker says his team should be looking to finish higher in the league next season as long as they improve their consistency.

United won seven out of their last 10 games to finish comfortably in sixth place in the Hereford Times Herefordshire Football League Premier Division table after struggling near the bottom of the table for the majority of the season.

The Palmers Meadow side also won the Charity Bowl, but missed out on the HFL Senior Cup after losing to Wellington Reserves in the final last Saturday.

“We finished sixth in the league, which we would have been happy with at the start of the season,” said Stocker.

“A month from the end, we were second from bottom, but we won seven out of our last 10.

“As long as we can keep the boys together and add a few players, we should be looking at improving on this season.

“Apart from Hinton, we have beaten every side above us, so we seem to be able to get ourselves up for the big games but not able to do it against the lesser sides and the sides around us.

“It’s bit concerning and is something we are looking at, but we are looking to add to the side so it should all bode well for the future.”

Wellington won the tie two minutes from time after United opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.

Stocker said his team did not get going after the break.

“To be fair, Wellington came out and really impressed in the second half and they could have scored early on.

“We felt that Fozzy’s (Mike Foster’s) goal shouldn’t have been offside.

“That would have been a killer to go 2-0 up at that late stage, but they’re a good side.

“We missed Aaron (Morris), who is quality at the back, and Dale Withers.

“Dan Gittens was also struggling and perhaps we should have taken him off, but it just happens.

“They were just stronger.”

The opening exchanges had very little goalmouth action, with both teams failing to stamp their authority on the game.

The best chance came in the 27th minute when Tenbury’s Lee Millichip saw his free-kick tipped onto the crossbar by Wellington goalkeeper Craig Hill.

Ian Patterson then smashed his effort wide when well placed six minutes later before Macauly Stone did likewise. Despite having more possession, Wellington did not really threaten Tenbury’s goal on too many occasions and it was the Worcestershire side who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time through Patterson. Tenbury then put the ball in the back of the net for a second time six minutes into the second half, but Foster’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Wellington slowly got back into the game and equalised after 58 minutes after Nick Britton stabbed the ball home from a corner.

Ryan Tabb then saw his effort cleared off the line by a Tenbury defender before Matt Pugh shot wide.

It looked like the game would be heading into extra-time before Wellington dramatically won it with two minutes to go.

Tenbury goalkeeper Robbie Farrar failed to reach Britton’s lofted cross, resulting in captain Dean Price having the simplest of tasks of poking the ball home from barely a yard out.