Tigers suffer 12th straight defeat

The Tigers were swept aside on the road largely thanks to a second half hat-trick from the home side’s Declan Bacon.

Worksop were in the contest at the break, only trailing to a Lee Ridley goal from 11th-placed Bottesford.

Worksop showed little attacking presence as the hosts had the better of the game.

Bacon almost put the home side ahead in the opening minute. Bacon accelerated with the ball past Holden but as he went to place it past the keeper, Alexander rushed out and saved it with his feet.

Bottesford Town got their noses in front in the second minute. Ex-Tiger Ridley glanced Henry Mallet’s corner beyond the reach of Alexander at the front post.

Thomas Spall went close for Bottesford just before the 20th-minute mark. Spall cut in, rode the challenge of Trench and curled a shot towards the near post but Alexander was alert to catch the attempt.

The final two chances of the first period fell to the Tigers on the stroke of half-time.

Mitch Husbands broke down the right before fizzing an inviting ball into the middle for Joel Phillips but Bowskin got a toe end on it to send it away from the Tigers forward and deny him a certain tap in.

Then Michael Trench’s long throw made its way to Phillips at the back post but the former Chesterfield youth striker hit his shot high and over.

The half-time whistle sounded to end an excitement deprived first period.

The second half began like the start as the hosts had a chance very early on. Bacon sizzled in a dangerous cross for substitute Golland but he failed to connect with the set-up and the ball bobbled out of play.

The Worksop faithful then enjoyed a 10-minute spell of chances. Firstly Husbands latched onto Luke Black’s through ball. The Worksop skipper sent in a lovely cross however Johnston raced back to cut out the danger.

Then Husbands held the ball up on the edge of the area before teeing up Overton but the on loan man fired the ball over the bar.

Bacon was slowly making his way into the game and went very close to getting on the scoresheet. Bottesford’s top scorer rifled a shot across the face of goal but Diggles, who replaced the injured Alexander, stretched out his leg to deflect it out for a corner which in the end came to nothing.

Bottesford had their best opportunity of the second half on the hour-mark. Mallet’s free-kick was nodded against the upright by Hutson and cleared only to the edge of the box where Graves hammered the ball over the stand.

Bottesford doubled their lead through hitman Bacon. The number 10 was threaded through on goal by Jack Cross. Bacon took it in his stride before cooly slotting the ball past an outrushing Diggles.

The home side then added a third to their tally 15 minutes from time. Bacon rolled his man to pick up Graves’ ball and advance towards goal. Like his first, Bacon calmly stroked the ball past the keeper for his brace.

Golland almost inflicted more pain on the Tigers. Bacon held the ball up well before slotting the ball down the line for Golland who hit his shot across the face of goal and wide.

Bacon completed his hat-trick as he hammered in the final nail in the Tigers’ coffin. Bacon, wide right of the Tigers half, beautifully lobbed the keeper with an accurate side-footed volley.

The final chance of the game fell to the team in yellow and blue. Mallet’s out-swinging corner was powered towards goal by Johnston but Diggles tipped over the effort.

The referee brought proceedings to an end and confirm Worksop’s 12th defeat in a row.

Worksop next face already relegated Harrogate Railway Athletic away on Monday night in the penultimate game of the 2017/18 campaign.

Worksop: Alexander (Diggles), Holden, Trench, Lysons, Boyd, Hill, Black (Mlynarski), Baird, Husbands, Overton, Phillips (Smith).

Attendance: 105.