Both Worksop Town and Basford United will be flying the Nottinghamshire flag in the first round of the FA Trophy after the two sides came through their third qualifying round matches on Saturday.
The Nottingham Sport was at Loughborough Dynamo to watch Worksop come from behind to win 2-1 against their Leicestershire opponents whilst Basford, as they did in midweek in a thrilling FA Cup tie against Boston United, won on penalties at home to another Leicestershire opponent in Harborough Town, to reach the next round of the competition.
Under the sun kissed skies of north Leicestershire, the travelling army of Worksop fans were in good spirits after watching their team win, but they had to come from behind, after missing a guilt edged chance themselves in the first minute, when Hall skied over when it looked easier to score with the goal gaping. Loughborough went up the other end and did just that. Tague prodding over the line beating Markowski to the ball.
Loughborough looked good value for large parts of the first half but Worksop improved in time to dictate play, passing and probing from midfield, they finally levelled on 32 when Hardy volleyed from close range, and a few minutes before half time Josh Wilde smashed home a screamer to send the visiting supporters off to the bar with a smile.
In the second half, Worksop should have gone on to win more convincingly, Loughborough unable to gain any relevant possession for long periods, but for some poor finishing it could have been more, but in the end the result was all that mattered, and Worksop eased through to advance in the competition.
At Basford. The home side took a first half lead through Tyreace Palmer but Harborough levelled shortly after the break.
That took the game, eventually to a penalty shoot out, with the scores locked at ninety minutes.
Basford scoring all their five, Munakandafa with the winner after Preston saved from Rhys Kelly with Harborough Town’s fourth.
More celebrations for United followed, the Ambers getting used to winning cup matches via spot kicks.
*Main image @worksoptown action from an entertaining clash between Loughborough and Worksop.
