Column: Is it a case of shape up or ship out for 2015/16 Worksop Town side?

Firstly, there was a huge gulf between the sides – it was men against boys.

Secondly, this season is limping to a close, with Tigers looking less and less like a top-three outfit.

Mark Shaw rightly heaped praise on Tuesday’s star performer Kieran Wells, who made very light work of the Tigers defence.

He might have scored four goals, but he should have had six – and it wouldn’t be a stretch of journalist license to suggest he could have bagged a treble hat-trick.

But his waspish performance, leading markers a merry dance, ghosting into space and finishing efficiently, wasn’t the only difference between the sides.

Parramore were strong and quick.

When they had to go direct they did, and it wasn’t aimless.

They passed it swiftly too, and posed danger from open play and set-pieces.

Worksop did score twice, thanks to two nice Kyle Jordan finishes, but the difference in the threat contained by the two strike forces was like night and day.

Every fierce tackle, or towering header, or nice bit of play, was greeted with bellows of encouragement from a side who seem together.

Worksop, as they have been for weeks, looked disjointed and not at all like a unit.

Yes there are injuries in the squad, Julian Lawrence the most obvious example of a player hindered by a knock.

And confidence is low.

But the general fitness levels of some of the Worksop Town players have to be questioned – if you’re being paid to play sport you have to be in shape. Surely that’s a minimum requirement?

It was plain to see why Handsworth are in such a rich vein of form, and you’d expect them to run Tadcaster very close for the title.

Worksop supporters meanwhile are questioning where the next points might come from.

Even if there is no silverware to be played for, personal pride and the 480 supporters who file into Sandy Lane on a Saturday should be enough to motivate this group.

There are 11 games left for Tigers to prove they deserve consideration for a place in next year’s squad.

With the manager’s patience wearing very thin, it can only be a case of shape up or ship out.