Tigers hit five past Parras in Worksop derby

The Evo-Stik Premier side came out 5-2 winners in the Worksop derby against Parramore, as their superior fitness told late on.

Positives for Worksop Town were the finishing of hat-trick hero Leon Mettam, an upbeat tempo after the interval and excellent performances from Ryan Clarke and Lee Beeson.

For the hosts, they’ll take heart from the positive and aggressive way they started the game, almost putting it beyond Tigers inside 20 minutes.

Tigers, playing as the visitors, had a decent first quarter of an hour without really threatening the Parramore goal.

And it was from a flowing Worksop Town move that the first goal came, but at the other end.

Massiah McDonald’s attempted back heel to Chris Shaw didn’t work, the Parras broke and Jordan Hatton cut inside Adie Hawes to fire into the bottom corner.

Three minutes later Tigers were simply caught napping as Parramore passed it through them, Lee Holmes turned away from Hawes and poked past Mario Ziccardi for 2-0.

It was very nearly three before the 20 minute mark but a dangerous shot went into the Tigers sidenetting.

Worksop Town striker Leon Mettam had their first shot at ex Tiger Steve Hernandez when he turned neatly on the edge of the box but his drive was straight at the Parramore stopper.

Lee Beeson tried his luck from distance and Hernandez had to be sharp to keep it out.

Shaw came charging out of defence to steal possession and his lofted ball found Mettam in the box, but he sliced high over the bar.

With half an hour gone Hawes towered above the Parramore defence to head at goal and thumped the ball over.

Paul Sykes gifted the ball to Worksop Town just outside his box and McDonald went clean through on Hernandez but his tame shot was well saved by the keeper.

The ‘second half team’ were all stripped off and in position for the start of the second period but the first half team emerged once more and kept their places.

And they made amends for the first half almost immediately as Beeson sent in a hard, flat cross and Mettam powered home a header at the near post for 2-1.

Ten minutes into the half Mettam got his second, stealing in to nick the ball 35 minutes out and showing strength, balance and pace to drive to the box and slot past Hernandez.

Shiels got back brilliantly to halt the progress of Holmes who had skipped away from Hawes on halfway and was haring towards goal before a spill by Ziccardi gave a golden chance to Parramore’s Gav Davis, but the former Tiegr dinked the ball over the bar.

Mettam turned provider with a sliderule pass for McDonald and the frontman took a touch and put it wide of the far post.

Matt Young took the place of Towers in midfield with 25 minutes left, Tigers not yet opting for wholesale changes.

On 70 McDonald and Warlow were withdrawn, Bruno Holden and Craig King entering the fray.

The duo looked lively and seconds after Mettam had gone down looking unsuccessfully for a penalty, Holden dinked the ball to him at the back post and his header across goal made it 3-2 and a deserved hat-trick.

Five minutes remained when Beeson cut into the Parramore box and was felled before he could shoot, and the winger then picked himself up to blast home the resulting spot-kick.

Playing at a fast tempo the visitors began to stretch their NCEL Premier opponents, and with fresh legs on in most positions chances were created for King and Holden but Hernandez foiled them both.

But there was nothing he could do when yet another quick move ended in a cracking shot from Holden that made it 5-2 with almost the last kick of the game.

Worksop Parramore: Hernandez, L. Thompson, Hill, Foyle, Lowe, Sykes, Hatton, Wood, Holmes, Bates, McGhie. Not used: Nolan, Davis, Whittington, Griffiths, Smith.

Worksop Town (first half): Ziccardi, R. Clarke, Shaw, Telling, Shiels, Hawes, Beeson, Towers, McDonald, Mettam, Warlow. Not used: Downey, R. Thompson, Richardson, E. Clarke. Second half appearances: Wood, Young, Melton, Dodds, Menga, Holden, King.

Attendance: 153.