Another clean sheet as Tigers hold AFC Fylde

Tigers have developed a mean streak at the back, and they needed it against AFC Fylde on Saturday, weathering a first half barrage.

But they finished the 0-0 draw firmly on top, creating a number of good chances and playing the better football.

Lake handed a first start to Jack Dean on the right, as Craig King moved up to partner Tom Denton and Steve Towers dropped to the bench.

Martin Ball’s fifth minute free-kick tested the Fylde defence, Paul Scott heading just wide of his own goal with home players threatening.

And at the other end a curling inswinger from Michael Barnes was nodded over by Tigers skipper Stuart Ludlam.

Ludlam’s defensive partner Kern Miller was also was in the thick of it early on, clearing a Barnes effort off the line.

Paul Bastock then got a chance to show he still possesses great reflexes, palming over James Dean’s flicked header from Barnes’ cross.

Miller should have hit the target for the hosts when King’s corner found him rising highest, buthis header shaved the wrong side of the post.

Seconds later Miller made a fine interception to deny James in the six yard area.

The teams went in at the break level, and when they returned Jack Dean had been replaced by Steve Towers.

Tigers were first to put together an attack, Denton’s through ball letting King challlenge Scott, leave the defender prone and pick out Matt Young who sidefooted wide.

It wasn’t until the hour mark that AFC Fylde got into their stride, breaking through James Dean and Adam Farrell sliced a shot wide.

Ryan Clarke’s luck with referee Mr A. Smith ran out in the 65th minute, the right-back seeing yellow for a late challenge on James McCarthy.

King’s cross hung in the air and semed to deceive keeper Ben Hinchcliffe, Denton flicking it goalwards, unlucky to see the ball palmed onto the bar.

In Worksop’s best spell of the game, Clarke fed Young and he in turn found Towers, and the sub’s shot deflected just wide of the far post.

The promotion chasing visitors finally found some momentum, James Dean turning a shot onto the post, and replacement Sean Cooke curled one from 25 yards that Bastock saved well.

Lake’s Tigers pushed forward once more however, Young’s free-kick finding the head of Ludlam and the skipper steered the ball off target.

A draw was a fair enough result, Worksop now with just one defeat in five.