See also

- SLIDESHOW: Chester 2 - 3 Accrington
- MATCH REPORT: Chester 2 Accrington Stanley 3

The Chester City boss was responding to his side's 3-2 home league defeat against Accrington Stanley.

The Blues, who suffered their eighth defeat in 10 games, fought back after trailing 1-0 to lead 2-1 at the break, but they then surrendered their lead in the second half.

Williamson said: "I was looking at the players and seeing their character and desire.

"When we got the equaliser and then managed to get our noses in front, I thought 'brilliant', we showed a lot of character then and I felt we just had to take that into the second half.

"For some reason we never managed to maintain that, and that's the most disappointing aspect.

"It's a very thin line between winning and losing, or even getting a draw, and that seems to be the case.

"We're getting punished with every opportunity, but we've got to keep believing in ourselves. I certainly believe in the players, but they've got to believe in themselves. I feel sorry for a few of them who give their all and have a desire.

"But some of the players' heads have gone down, and we can't have that or accept that. We really only need strong players out there and we'll be looking to see what we can do tomorrow at Dagenham and Redbridge."

Williamson, who saw skipper Paul Butler and striker John Murphy put City 2-1 up at the break, admitted he had been disappointed about his side's final ball into the danger areas.

He added: "I thought we started the game reasonably well, before going behind and then getting back in it. We looked organised and had shape up until half-time, but we gave away a poor equaliser and instead of winning the game 3-2, we lost 3-2.

"John Murphy connected with a great header, but he didn't direct it down and the keeper made a decent save from him.

"They then went up the park after winning a corner and won the game. All credit to them for managing to keep going, but we are bitterly disappointed again.

"I feel as if I've broken a record saying the same things week in and week out.

"We didn't create a great deal in the second half and they defended reasonably well and limited us to just a few opportunities.

"Laurence Wilson did get forward on the left side, but we never got the final ball into their box and that's the most important part of it. We never seemed to have the players on the park who could produce it for us."

And Williamson defended his decision to keep faith with goalkeeper John Danby who was struggling with a back injury during the closing stages of the game: "I can only go by the indication that John and the physio were giving me and they said he was okay, so we stuck by him," he said.

"If the physio had told me John was injured then he would have come off, but they were telling me he wasn't so he carried on."

Ex-Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers midfielder Jason McAteer was on the City bench to gain experience from Williamson and his assistant Jimmy Bone to gain his coaching badge.

n Former Chester player Frank Wayman, 76 has died in an accident whilst walking his dog after he was struck by a motorcycle as he crossed the A167 near Ferryhill, County Durham.

Mr Wayman played at inside left for several clubs in addition to Chester including Darlington and Preston North End.

He signed for Chester in the 1955/56 season and stayed one term making 33 appearances for the club, scoring two goals.

Wayman was signed from Preston North End and moved on to Darlington after leaving Sealand Road.

Mr Wayman leaves a wife, two daughters, two granddaughters, two grandsons and two great-granddaughters.