Darlington bring Worksop Town back down to earth with five goal rout
It was one step forward and two steps back for Worksop Town as Saturday's much-needed 1-0 home win over Scarborough Athletic was quickly followed by a 5-1 away rout at Darlington in the National League North on Tuesday night.
Saturday had ended a three game winless run, but at Blackwell Meadows they had a man sent off in a comprehensive defeat.
Darlington's first goal came in the 24th minute as Charlie Lennon pulled the ball back for Aidan Rutledge, who fired into the bottom left corner.
Just two minutes later, the Tigers were back in it as Vaughan Redford's scuffed cross found Jordan Burrow who swept in his shot from close range.
Darlington retook the lead just before half-time as Will McGowan tapped in from close range.
And the Quakers extended the lead three minutes into the second half as Max Howells ran into the box to get onto a chipped through ball before firing a half volley across goal and into the bottom left corner.
Lennon grabbed the fourth for the hosts as he cut onto his right foot on the edge of the box and curled an effort into the bottom right corner on 74 minutes
Worksop's misery continued as Regan Hutchinson was shown a straight red card for a heavy tackle on goalscorer Lennon.
The 10 men of Worksop conceded another eight minutes from time as Jack Maskell was allowed to bring a ball down in the box and fire past Tommy Taylor in goal for a fifth.
Liam Hughes had bagged Saturday’s winner after nipping in at the back post to slot home just two minutes from the end and boss Craig Parry was delighted with the performance levels of his side.
“It was probably our best performance of the year, not just individually but as a group," he said.
“We fought for each other today, worked hard and pressed at the right times, we looked a real threat.
“I’m really pleased with the defensive performance of the whole team, but I singled Luke (Waterfall) and Bailey (Gooda) out after and rightly so.
“I said to them both in there that it was their best individual performances since they joined the club.”
On matchwinner Hughes, Parry added: “He was in the right place at the right time, I’m really pleased for him.
“We asked him to play that sole role up top and occupy their three centre halves, he did that really well for us.”
The visitors began the contest in the ascendancy when Jack Waldron tried an audacious lob over Tommy Taylor, however the Tigers shotstopper was able to back-pedal and tip his effort behind for a corner.
Worksop responded well with Lewis Whitham leading the charge. The wide man took on Waldron and fizzed a low cross across the box which Scarborough goalkeeper Ryan Whiteley cleared with his feet.
The game then became very evenly matched for the remainder of the half as both defences cancelled each other out.
However, after the interval Hughes had his first sight on goal when he headed straight at Whiteley from Mason O’Malley’s cross.
Scarborough nearly stole the lead late on when Bailey Gooda had his loose touch pounced on by a Scarborough forward on the edge of the box. The ball then found its way to substitute Rio Allan, however the 21-year-old lashed his effort well over the bar.
Minutes later Hughes was the hero when he prodded home at the back post from Joe Leesley’s floated cross, sending the Windsor Foodservice Stadium into euphoria.