Worksop Town 4-2 Bridlington Town (Northern Premier League East Division) 06.11.21
Worksop returned to action, after a two-week break (last match was a 1-1 draw at Brighouse on 23 October), to see off visitors Bridlington Town in the league on Saturday afternoon, although they were made to fight for all three points after the majority of the goals arrived in a hectic, first period.
Striker Liam Hardy would register twice, taking his tally to four goals in four games, as the Tigers put in a devastating, first half display in which they would register four times, the visitors also getting in on the action with a goal of their own.
And it really could have been more.
Both sides had chances inside the opening ten minutes in which to open the scoring, that first goal, somehow, not coming until twelve minutes in, before which the home ‘keeper, Sebastian Malkowski, would save well from Brett Agnew (the linesman’s flag also being raised there), whilst Jack Broadhead would hit the side-netting at the other end, connecting with a Deegan Atherton long throw.
However, it would be that of Hardy who would open the scoring for the hosts, he reacting quickest after shouts for a penalty were waved away, the Tigers striker latching onto the loose ball and slotting home the opener.
It would be a lead that would last a matter of minutes however as Andrew Norfolk levels from the penalty spot; the action continued afterwards with visiting ‘keeper, James Hitchcock, saving well from Aaron Sennett-Nielson who had set himself up when cushioning the ball well, shooting straight at the ‘keeper.
A quarter of the way into the game and it was the turn of Aleksandrs Starcenko to get himself amongst the goals, albeit with a slightly fortuitous effort which is fumbled by Hitchcock, and bounces kindly into the net.
This time, after a few minutes elapsed, it would be the hosts who’d extend their lead, Hardy at the double affording a two-goal cushion for the Tigers.
Agnew, and Danny Earl would be seen to link up well before the eventual shot is sliced wide of goal, before Malkowski tips another effort away from Earl, moments later, and then from Agnew as the visitors pepper the home goal.
The first half though would belong to Worksop, they finding time in the closing minutes to add a fourth goal, Connor Smythe finding himself in space and poking home.
It would be the visitors who would race out of the blocks in the second period, and, within four minutes of the restart, grabbed themselves a second goal, Earl being the scorer when finishing from a tight angle.
Earl and Agnew, having grown into the game as the first period progressed, continued that form into the second, regularly causing problems for Malkowski, and his Tigers defence.
A perhaps frustrating second period would only see any real action in the final quarter as substitute Sam Ackroyd was fouled late on, Connor Smythe blasting the resulting free-kick over the bar, before Ackroyd then fizzes a ball across the box, Sennett-Nielson go for the spectacular, to no avail.
Coming up for the Tigers, and after that fortnight break, and Saturday’s home win, it’s two games on the road with a trip to Marske United on Tuesday (9 November) night, before visiting Lincoln United on Saturday (13 November) afternoon.
Worksop Town: Sebastian Malkowski, Deegan Atherton, Connor Smythe, Cody Cromack, Jake Picton, Ben Turner, Aleksandrs Starcenko, Jack Broadhead, Liam Hardy, Steven McDonnell (Sam Ackroyd 71), Aaron Sennett-Nielson (Ben Tomlinson 90).
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @LewisPickersgi1 action from Sandy Lane as Worksop beat Bridlington.
