Match report: Worksop Town 3 Albion Sports 2

Worksop Town finished their 2015/16 home fixtures on a high with a 3-2 victory thanks to a late brace from substitute Matt Booth.
Worksop Town v Pontefract Colliers.
Worksop's Matt Booth.Worksop Town v Pontefract Colliers.
Worksop's Matt Booth.
Worksop Town v Pontefract Colliers. Worksop's Matt Booth.

Tigers were locked at 1-1 in a fairly uneventful game against Albion Sports until the local man came off the bench to make a match winning contribution.

A last gasp penalty for Sports made the scoreline look far more interesting than the game actually was.

A hard pitch made life difficult for both sides, no one particularly impressive in possession in the early minutes in what was a scrappy spectacle.

The opening quarter of an hour could almost be written off entirely, a decidedly ‘end of season’ feel setting in, until Ross Henshaw’s superb ball out of defence found Mitch Husbands and he drove to the box before blasting high and wide.

Albion’s first chance didn’t arrive until the 26th minute, but it brought the game’s first goal.

Omar Habeeb pulled out the visitors’ first real moment of quality, playing a lovely pass in behind the Worksop defence for Matthew Mathers to finish coolly past Jon Kennedy.

Worksop’s reply, six minutes later, came in a similar style - Conor Higginson curling the ball into the area after a corner had been cleared, Henshaw staying up in attack and somehow beating the offside flag to steal in at the back post and volley home.

The first half had nothing more in the way of goalmouth action, the only incident of note a free header for Lewis Morgan who nodded the ball against one of his own players from a corner.

For the second game running Tigers were guilty of being trigger shy in promising positions up the pitch, so when James Cottingham drilled a second half shot wide of the mark he was afforded generous applause for at least having a go.

Worksop began to threaten, Higginson winning two free-kicks in similar positions outside the box, Kieran Fenton curling the second one goalward and forcing a good low save from Mark Bower.

Seconds later Jack Hawkins tumbled in the box with two Sports players in close proximity, refeere Mr Eley unimpressed.

As Worksop’s threat fizzled out, Albion took over, Lewis Morgan coming close with a chance at the near post.

The game needed something to liven proceedings, and the impact of a fan favourite did the trick.

Substitute Matt Booth, making his first appearance in months, chased down a back pass, tackled the keeper and slid to beat a defender to the ball, steerling home for an 84th minute Worksop lead.

Three minutes later Cottingham’s corner to the back post was headed down by Booth and Bower couldn’t stop the ball creeping over the line.

The game was won but there was still time for late drama, Alex Cusack dribbling into the box where he was tripped by Fenton - Asif Hussain stroking home the resulting spot-kick.

Worksop weren’t to be denied in their final home game of the season however, Booth with the final action, running at defenders and shooting into the arms of Bower.

Worksop Town: Kennedy 6, Hodder 6, Waddle 6, Henshaw 7, FENTON 7, Gorman 6, Higginson 6 (Ward 67), Cottingham 6, Johnson 6 (Booth 73), Husbands 6. Hawkins (Gee 79). Not used: Woolley, Nightingale.

Albion Sports: Bower, Khan, Kaba, Morgan, Hussain, Bradley, Hendrie (O’Brien 72), Barden, Mathers (Annot 67), Habeeb (Maturine 67), Cusack. Not used: Annor, Trennery.

Goalscorers: Henshaw 32, Booth 84, 87; Mathers 26

Yellows: Cottingham 89

Referee: Mr R. Eley. Assistants: Mr G. Myers, Mr M. Beard.

Attendance: 322