Tigers' character pleases manager after fightback

Worksop Town boss Jon Kennedy praised his side's battling qualities after they came from behind to claim victory.
Kyle Jordan in action for Worksop Town.

Picture: Sarah Washbourn / www.yellowbellyphotos.comKyle Jordan in action for Worksop Town.

Picture: Sarah Washbourn / www.yellowbellyphotos.com
Kyle Jordan in action for Worksop Town. Picture: Sarah Washbourn / www.yellowbellyphotos.com

Two second-half goals earned the Tigers three Northern Counties East League Premier Division points at relegation-threatened Armthorpe Welfare.

Worksop Town boss Jon Kennedy said: “It was a good battling performance but it wasn’t good enough going a goal down when we had all the chances.

“They were a physical side and young lads tend to roll over sometimes.

“Today we showed a lot of character to come from a goal behind, which we haven’t done a lot this year.”

Worksop moved up to 10th on 53 points thanks to the win, which ended a run of three successive defeats against AFC Mansfield, Handsworth Parramore and Cleethorpes Town.

Kennedy said those defeats could be put partly down to the form of their opponents and the size of their playing budgets.

But the manager said that meant they had to be targetting a win at Armthorpe, who started in the relegation zone

“It was definitely one of the main things we spoke about at half-time, because you look at our last three games and can kind of accept the defeats due to their budgets and league position,” he said.

“However, against Armthorpe we should be looking at the game as one to be coming away from with a win.”

Kyle Jordan was the Tigers’ hero with a brace of goals — a header and a late penalty — after Worksop had fallen behind in the first period.

Armthorpe, who remained second-from-bottom, took the lead following a counter attack.

A good through ball fell to Jason Kearsley in the 30th minute and he took the ball around Tigers’ keeper Kennedy.

The home striker then slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Worksop dominated most of the game and their patience paid off on the hour.

Adam Scott delivered a quality ball on to the head of Jordan, who steered his finish into the top right hand corner of the Armthorpe goal.

The visitors were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute.

Matt Parkin made a great run into the Welfare box and was taken down by a defender in front of the referee.

The referee had no hesitation in giving Worksop the penalty and Jordan stepped up to take responsibility.

He stroked his spot-kick neatly into the bottom right corner to take all the points back to Sandy Lane.

The goal rewarded Worksop, who were the better side on the day and probably felt the 2-1 score line flattered the home side.

After their run of defeats, the late victory and fightback will have given the Tigers much-needed confidence going into the visit of Staveley Miners’ Welfare on Saturday.

Worksop Town: Jon Kennedy, Jordan Hodder, Matthew Parkin, Jack Waddle, Samuel Weston, Steven Wankienicz, Leon Loftus (Jacob Richards 72 minutes), Jack Hawkins (Scott Wesley 79 minutes), Mitch Husbands, Kyle Jordan (c), Adam Scott.Unused sub: Aaron Pickersgill.

Goals: Jordan 60th, 89th

Bookings: Wesley 85th

Attendance: 120