Worksop Town boss takes positives from FA Trophy exit to Kidderminster Harriers

The battling Tigers were beaten 4-1 on penalties after they held the high-flying Harriers to a 0-0 draw at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium.

But, despite the defeat, Parry says his players can be proud of their efforts.

“I thought we were magnificent from start to finish,” he said.

"We were against a full-time side, one of the better sides in the division and we played extremely well.

“If you go by chances in the 90 minutes, we probably should have come away with a win really. We had some chances that we have to be more clinical with.

“To take them to penalties, where it’s a lottery, is good and everyone in the dressing room should keep their heads held high.”

The Tigers carved out the first opening of the contest when Martin Woods delivered a dangerous free kick into the penalty area. Luke Waterfall rose highest to meet it, but his header drifted over the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

The visitors responded with their first chance through captain Amari Morgan-Smith. A neat touch set him up perfectly on the half-volley, but his strike was blocked and deflected behind for a corner.

On 15 minutes, Lewis Whitham proved a constant threat down the left flank, driving past the Kidderminster defence before firing a low cross across the face of goal. Aaron Martin narrowly failed to connect in the centre as the ball flashed across the box.

Another opportunity soon followed for the Tigers. Aaron Martin surged forward and picked out Jordan Burrow with a well-weighted cross, but Burrow’s effort from inside the area drifted wide of the target.

The second half saw the clearest chance of the game. Jordan Burrow slid a perfectly timed through ball into Lewis Whitham, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he dragged his shot just wide of the post.

Opportunities remained scarce as the match entered its latter stages. Joe Foulkes struck a deflected effort that was brilliantly kept out by Lewis Forshaw, before Martin Woods cleared the resulting corner off the line to send the game to penalties.

The Tigers’ cup run came to an end as Lewis Whitham and Joe Leesley missed from the spot.

Worksop Town return to league action with a trip to Southport this weekend in the Enterprise National League North.