Frustrated Parry suffers first Tigers league defeat

The Tigers boss was handed the first league defeat of his tenure in a poor showing on Tuesday night.

Worksop went ahead through Luke Hinsley, who looped an eighth-minute header over Lewis Gwilliams to put his side in front.

However, the Tigers’ display turned lethargic, allowing Sutton to go into the break 3-1 ahead with goals coming from Edwin Ahenkorah, Jordan Francis and Dan Preston.

Worksop’s torpid display continued throughout the second period before Charlie Jemson pulled a goal back with four minutes to go, but Sutton confirmed their first win with an 89th-minute strike from Reece Leek.

“I wish we hadn’t of scored really because I think once we had scored, we switched off completely and we couldn’t get ourselves going again,” admitted Parry. “They were first to every second ball and they worked harder than us; they did all the basic things in football better than us and it is a disappointing pill to take.

“They have got to now take the other side of the game and that is what makes them good players and good men and this is what makes us a good team because when you do take knocks you have to put it together again and go on a little run and take it from there."

Worksop were without several key players for the fixture, upsetting the rhythm that they had forged.

Parry stressed that this reason isn’t just an excuse to why that the Tigers lost the fixture.

Parry continued: “We have made changes again, and I don’t want to make excuses but Jack Broadhead, who has probably been our best player at centre-midfield, got smashed after 20 minutes (against Belper) and he came off cut.

“The centre-half (Spencer Clarke) that we have signed today pulls his quad after an hour – he is out.

“James Baxendale has a broken hand and Gavin Allott is coming back from the same issue. Jake Picton is seven days away from returning with his knee, so you’re looking at six players, who are out of the first team which would cause problems for any side.

“I’m just stating the obvious and not making an excuse because that doesn’t stop people from working hard and from doing their jobs.”