Denied friendly victory by last-gasp equaliser

The visitors, who are second in a parallel league to Worksop — the Midlands Feeder League West — provided a good test.

Both teams started well with Litchfield having most of the possession but not creating chances, and Worksop counter attacking.

Worksop’s excellent defence thwarted the visitors from several short corners.

Towards the end of the half possession was more balanced with both teams creating chances.

Worksop had a couple of short corners, but also failed to convert.

In the second half the hosts were on top, dominating possession in midfield through man-of-the-match Katie Hetherington.

They created many attacks, penetrating the Litchfield defence with pace.

Worksop took the lead 15 minutes into the half. A long ball from Esther Gray gave Ailsa Gray a chance to attack before she unselfishly set up Katie Hetherington to score.

Both teams continued to create chances and with eight minutes remaining the visitors won a penalty flick.

However, excellent keeping by Samantha Jarvis preserved Worksop’s lead as she pushed the flick wide.

It looked like the home side would start their 2017 action with a win, but from the last play of the game Litchfield won a short corner and levelled.

Worksop 2nds went top of Notts League Division 1 with a 3-0 win at Meridian.

Worksop, who had scored ten goals in their previous two outings, began strongly and quickly put pressure on the home defence without creating a clear-cut chance.

Meridian briefly threatened, but were denied by a good reaction save from Sophie Hughes.

At the other end Sophie Forster threatened with several mazy runs into the D.

Worksop, frustrated by their lack of a cutting edge in the goalless first half, quickly earned a series of short corners at the start of the second period.

Sam Badger opened the scoring from a straight strike at the top of the circle.

The second came while Worksop were temporarily down to 10 players when Patricia Hughes lobbed the keeper from a short corner.

Just before full-time Sarah Bagshaw bulldozed through the circle and struck the ball into the back of the net.