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Worksop 1 Marine 0 01/03/08
ANOTHER big team with promotion aspirations – another three points for Worksop Town.
Kevin Sanasy's first-half penalty condemned play-off hopefuls Marine to a second defeat at the hands of the Tigers.
But they're not in an exclusive group – Fleetwood Town, Gateshead and Guiseley have all been beaten by a Worksop team that raise their game for the bigger tests.
The road to the Blue Square North does not pass through Sandy Lane.
It will need to next season if Peter Rinkcavage is to fulfil his own promotion aspirations, but for now at least he appears to have overcome one major hurdle in his first season in charge.
Read Peter Rinkcavage's thoughts in Friday's Guardian.
Sandy Lane has been more of a sandcastle than a fortress in recent times, with visiting teams stamping all over Worksop.
But with just one home league defeat since before Christmas, Rinkcavage's Worksop finally appear to have shaken off the nerves when entertaining at Sandy Lane.
Fresh from the last-minute winner against Fleetwood four days earlier, Rinkcavage made just one change with Sanasy returning from suspension to replace hamstring-victim Jermaine Palmer.
Young defender Adam Boyce, signed from Doncaster Rovers on the eve of kick-off, was on the bench.
There was an early warning of Marine's power up front when, despite playing against the gale in the first half, Paul Woolcott raced to the byline. His cutback was met by Karl O'Donnell but he could only lash the ball wide.
With a strong wind at their backs, Worksop were struggling to get the ball under control but on 11 minutes they forced a corner from which Paul Stansfield had a header saved.
Then on 14 minutes, the wind played into Worksop's hands. A long clearance from Steve Hernandez deceived Steve Hussey and left his defensive partner James Connolly struggling to get back. Andy White nipped in and as he was about to shoot, he was bundled over by Connolly.
The referee pointed to the spot, but he ignored the letter of the law and only cautioned Connolly despite him being the last man.
Sanasy calmy rolled home the spot-kick, but the appluase was tempered at the sense of injustice that Connolly was still on the pitch.
With the freedom of a one-goal cushion, Worksop began to express themselves.
Ryan Ludlum, Sanasy and Steve Robinson combined down the right to set up White, who with his back to goal on the corner of the six-yard box, turned his man and shot into the side netting.
Ryan Ludlum talks about his return to Sandy Lane in Friday's Guardian.
Dave Cockerill flicked a Hernandez kick into the path of Sanasy, who took the ball on his chest, beat a man and drew a fine save low to his left from Andy Ralph.
On the stroke of half-time, a wind-assisted Cockerill throw nearly found the back of the net via the head of White, but Ralph punched to safety.
Lee Parle had two decent efforts for the visitors as the half drew to a close, but the feeling was that with the wind behind them in the second half, Marine would be a tough team to repel.
And they showed their intent straight from the kick-off when O'Donnell and fired at goal from halfway, but Hernandez was alert and tipped it over.
With big Peter Cumiskey throwing his weight around up front, defenders Antony Jackson and Terry Henshaw were left in doubt as the physical examination they were to receive from the 20-goal hitman.
There was a threat from the wing as well in Ian Latham, and on 57 minutes, as the defence parted, he fired in a rasping 20-yard drive that Hernandez superbly tipped to safety.
Shaun Tuck came off the bench and immediately dragged a shot across the face of goal.
Then on 70 minutes, Tuck was released behind the defence and thudded a shot against the underside of the cross bar.
It was all hands to the pump for Worksop, but they managed to spring from their defensive shell when White tested Ralph with a cross-shot.
Moments later, the big man got to the byline and with no options in the box, he slalomed his way through two defenders and again hit the side netting.
Cumiskey then set up Tuck, but the substitute could only drag another shot across Hernandez's goalmouth.
The final whistle brought relief for the Tigers defence and another three points, and left another promotion-chasers hopes ruined.
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Weather for Worksop
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North
