BLOG: Worksop Town are like a box of chocolates

They’re a talented bunch, that’s never been in question.

But they are infuriatingly inconsistent, producing chalk and cheese performances from one game to the next.

They can go out and tear teams to bits, and that’s evidenced by their staggering 94 goals in 28 league games.

They can produce breathtaking one-touch, flowing football.

And then they struggle to string two passes together.

This season they’ve shut down opposition strike forces entirely in one game, and gone out and conceded the most ludicrous goals in the next.

They’ve put together mini runs of victories, and then failed to turn up in the big games when it really matters.

Their 2016 record is proof of the inconsistency.

Two 4-0 victories were followed by a snatched point at Albion Sports, a turgid display in a 3-0 win over Pontefract and then, out of no where, the best performance of the season by far in an 8-1 thrashing of Garforth.

Confidence was high going into the visit to Tadcaster, and they were beaten 4-1 – without playing particularly badly.

So you’d have expected them to be motivated, ready and determined to go out and make a statement against Retford.

They owed the Badgers one, after being frustrated in a 2-2 draw at Christmas.

And it all started so well.

Tigers came out flying and took the lead, and perhaps could have scored a couple more early goals.

But all of a sudden, they went missing and Retford gave them the runaround, taking a 3-1 lead.

At one stage, even the most optimistic person inside the ground must have feared a 5-1 defeat.

Where was the slick passing and movement?

Gone was the ability to dictate possession, as they did for long spells against title favourites Tadcaster.

They were toothless in attack, absent in midfield and chaotic in defence.

Two substitutions later, they’re back in the game at 3-3 and Steve Woolley, who to his credit hadn’t stopped running for the entire second half, banged in a picture perfect volley to seal an unlikely win.

It was classic Worksop Town – showing their flair for the dramatic, when there was really no need for it.

Take nothing away from Retford, who were superb, but the Badgers are 15th and have won just won of their last nine league games.

With a bumper crowd packed into Sandy Lane, this was a chance to go out and showcase the attacking football and dominance Worksop are capabale of.

Instead, we played the Tigers lottery and picked out a performance that did not scream title contenders.

All of that said, they won the game, and that’s the most important thing.

Champions find a way to win, and Worksop did, from an unlikely position.

They ensured that a bad week – let’s not pretend the sale of Tom Elliott is anything but a huge blow to the title hopes – didn’t get any worse.

But we’re left wondering, can a team who seemingly pick and choose when to turn on the style, gather enough points to be in a position to take advantange of any slip ups by Handsworth and Tadcaster?

On Wednesday’s evidence, you wouldn’t bet the house.

Saturday’s visit to struggling Brigg gives them a chance to go out and put on a show.

The previous fixture finished 4-0 to Tigers.

But with this team, you never know what you’re going to get.