Worksop Town beaten by late penalty at promotion-chasing Stamford

Worksop Town were beaten 2-1 at high-flying Stamford.

A Harry Vince penalty four minutes from time proved decisive after Steve Wankiewicz was penalised for a foul – just when the Tigers had fought back to level.

Jordan said: “I’m really frustrated with ‘Vank’. I’m not sure if it was a penalty or not. It looked like one from where I was. But he has given the referee the chance to make a decision.

“They scored and it threw away all the hard work we had done.

“There were three big penalty shouts in the game that could have gone either way and all three went against us. That’s what happens sometimes when you go away to the big boys.

“We had been good value for a point so it is so frustrating.”

In the 74th minute a fine double save by Dave Reay kept the Tigers on course for a point, before the late penalty heartbreak.

Steve McDonnell had glanced in a Deegan Atherton cross two minutes earlier to level and seemingly earn a draw.

In the first half the wind quickly showed it would prove to be a difficult afternoon.

Reay made two good early saves before in the 21st minute Worksop had loud appeals for a penalty turned down. Lynton Karkach’s wayward ball into the area was latched on to by McDonnell, who rounded the keeper before being brought down. However, the referee ruled that the keeper’s challenge was fair.

Four minutes later that proved crucial when Stamford took the lead. Tamai Chitiza powered through the Worksop backline before sliding the ball under Reay.

Jordan added: “The boys did everything we asked of them really. It was an encouraging performance.

“We knew it would be tough coming somewhere like this. We went 1-0 down early on, but I always thought with the strong wind that we might get a chance to get back in the game. We did, but...”

Jordan highlighted the performance of keeper Reay for making several fine saves at crucial times in the match.

“When you come to places like this you have to ride your luck, but he made some massive saves at massive times to keep us in the game,” the manager added.