Flowing in the first half, Tigers were flat in the second as they surrendered a two-goal lead.

The draw did inch them into eighth place - their highest position of the season - but not with the commanding swagger they suggested in the first half.

A confident Tigers team put in possibly their best 45 minutes of football this season.

Their one-touch passing and movement off the ball tormented the West Yorkshiremen.
When they varied their options with long balls launched from the back, in-form strikers Andy White and Kevin Sanasy burst behind the defence with enterprise and energy.

Tigers could have had five or six, but had to settle for two - a scoreline that came back to haunt them in the second half.

Read manager Peter Rinkcavage's thoughts in Friday's Guardian.

Kevin Dawson was restored to the starting line-up in the absence of Terry Henshaw who was suffering from a bruised toe, and he slotted in alongside young defender Andy Boyce.

But the new defensive duo were virtual spectators in the first half as Worksop's high tempo tested Ossett's resolve.

An early indication of the confidence flowing through the team came in the ninth minute when Adam Fretwell, Steve Robinson and Sanasy combined to release the rampaging Ryan Ludlum down the right but his cross hit the roof of the net.

Kevin Davies lofted a ball down the channel for White to run onto and he turned his man and crossed but Robinson could only make contact with an outstretched toe and goalkeeper Paul Cuss collected.

Dave Cockerill then swung in a corner which was flicked on at the front post for White who charged in and headed over.

Reward for Worksop's enterprise arrived on 17 minutes.

Paul Stansfield flicked on a long throw to White who appeared to be going nowhere on the edge of the area until a touch took him into space and he lashed a fierce drive beyond Cuss and into the top corner.

It was a superb goal the befitted the start Worksop had made.

Sensing the chance to seize the game, Tigers poured forward.

On 22 minutes White returned the favour and played in Stansfield but he was brilliantly challenged by Niall O'Brien.

Cockerill then beat a man on the edge of the area only for his shot to deflect wide.

From the resulting corner on 30 minutes they doubled their lead.

Although Cockerill's initial centre was blocked, when Robinson played the ball back to him he whipped in a dangerous cross which Sanasy met with a brave downward header at the front post.

Sanasy nearly had his second moments later when he broke clear on the left but the ball bobbled as he shot and he skied it.

Chris Billy hit a drive just over the bar as Ossett showed signs of life.

Back up the other end and Stansfield tried an overhead kick which went straight to Cuss and then White showed great nerve to try and lob Cuss with the outside of his foot, the ball just falling the wrong side of the post.

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Worksop almost put the game beyond reach on the stroke of half-time when Robinson set up White who turned and fired low at goal. Cuss saved and then clawed the ball to safety in the nick of time as Robinson raced in to follow up.

The last thing Worksop wanted to hear was the half-time whistle.

It came to Ossett's rescue and the subsequent 15 minutes spent in the dressing room changed the entire course of the game.

Worksop came out a completely different team, confidence replaced by complacency.

Former Tiger Ben Walker hinted at Ossett's rejuvanation with a stinging drive on 49 minutes which Hernandez brilliantly tipped to safety.

The only sign of life from the hosts as an attacking force came when White held off a challenge to release Stansfield who could only poke the ball across goal.

Worksop were becoming stretched and Fretwell, who was the pivotal midfield anchor in the first half, started to wander.

Ossett came alive on 64 minutes when a long throw was cleared to left-back Chris Fawcus who drove the ball into the top corner from 16 yards.

Twelve minutes later a comeback that looked improbable half an hour earlier was complete.

Boyce made a hash of a clearance and substitute Craig Hall volleyed across Hernandez. Davies at the back post crashed it into the roof of the net when a shout from a team-mate would have allowed him a cooler head.

It at least sparked Worksop into life and within seconds they had a shout for a penalty when Stansfield fell under a challenge.

Substitute Steve Akers then teed up Stansfield but he drove wide.

Akers flung himself at a Robinson cross only to glance his header wide.

The full-time whistle was greeted with utter silence, no cheering, no booing. An acknowledgement at how well Worksop had played in the first half, and how frustratingly flat they performed in the second.