Unlucky 13 as FC United beat Tigers

WORKSOP Town’s unbeaten streak came to an end with an unlucky 13th game in charge for boss Simon Clark.

His men gifted FC United of Manchester a winner after coming back from two goals down, in a 3-2 defeat at Sandy Lane in front of a bumper crowd of 821.

Massiah McDonald welcomed Lee Neville to the game with a late challenge inside the first 60 seconds, the full-back needing a couple of minutes of treatment before returning.

The duo engaged in a fascinating battle for the next quarter of an hour, before McDonald robbed his man and drove into the box, shooting at goal and seeing James Spencer save the effort.

From the resulting corner Marc Roberts headed well over the bar.

At the other end Jake Cottrell sliced high and wide from 30 yards out.

The visitors went ahead on 26 minutes and it was Nicky Platt who found the net.

A great ball over the top put Astley Mullholland in behind Owain Warlow, the FC United man pulled it back and Jake Cottrell’s effort was tipped onto the post, Platt knocking the rebound past Jon Worsnop.

Warlow’s frustration showed two minutes later as he clipped Kyle Jacob’s heels to earn a yellow.

Luke Shiels had a shaky start to the game, and his afternoon almost got worse when he slipped and let Cottrell in, but despite beating Worsnop, the midfield man couldn’t get past Roberts who cleared.

Tigers looked to hit back from a Roberts long throw but none of the three home players around the ball could dig it out in the six yard area and FC United cleared.

Some calamitous defending led to goal number two for the visitors.

Roberts and Shiels contrived to give away possession on the edge of the box and Worsnop made a great save from Cottrell’s shot to concede a corner.

Carlos Roca whipped the ball in and Neville got in front of Luke Sharry to power a header home at the near post for the second goal.

Seconds later it was nearly 3-0 as Roca’s free-kick was met by Mike Norton and he nodded onto the bar.

After a half-time rollicking from boss Simon Clark Tigers came out looking to get back into the game, Jackson skinning his marker and winning a corner.

The little striker then touched on to McDonald to drive at the defence and he slipped in Hudson with a lovely pass, the skipper sliding the ball past Spencer to lift the home crowd.

Immediately following the goal Matt Young took Sharry’s place in the middle of the park, and the struggling Adam Jones departed for the visitors, James Holden coming on.

McDonald found more joy down the right and crossed for Jackson who turned and shot tamely at Spencer.

Gavin Allott departed after a poor 60 minutes with Gary King making his league debut.

The substitute’s first real contribution was to set up the equaliser, flicking the ball on from Warlow’s free-kick to McDonald on the right hand side of the box who took one touch and banged it low and hard past Spencer.

But within a few seconds of kick-off Tigers had gifted the visitors a third.

FC United sent the ball out to the right, Warlow was easily beaten for pace by Mullholland and his cross led to a shocking mix-up between Shiels and Worsnop, the defender finding his own net.

Another good spell from Tigers earned a corner on the left, but Spencer claimed the ball after it was nodded around the box and McDonald fouled him to earn a caution.

Dean Stott then saw yellow for blocking off Jackson who was on a promising run, and Worksop were unable to take advantage of the ensuing free-kick.

Norton missed an absolute sitter as the clock ticked into the final five minutes, getting the ball in a central position with only Worsnop to beat and lobbing the keeper who got back to claw away from his line.

Sam Duncum replaced McDonald in the final two minutes but was largely ineffective as Tigers failed to find an equaliser before time ran out.