Worksop Town: Tigers fight back for 2-2 draw at Frickley Athletic

The draw extended the Tigers unbeaten run in the league to ten matches, as they remain third in the league.

Frickley took the lead in the fifth minute when former Tiger Gavin Allott bungled the ball home after his initial shot from Jimmy Gaichem’s corner had been blocked.

With the wind in their favour the Blues continued to press, Jake Picton seeing his shot deflected for a corner from which Matthew Bloor put a free header over the bar.

On 18 minutes, the home side doubled their lead, Allott scoring from the penalty spot after Chris Salt brought Joe Wilcox down.

Bloor was next to go close for Frickley heading over Luke Jeff’s free kick.

Jack Muldoon shot just over the bar from the edge of the penalty area with the Tigers’ first real effort at goal midway through the half.

Conor Higginson pulled a goal back for the Tigers on 25 minutes with a superb strike into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area following a good advantage played by the referee.

Two minutes later Frickley had an excellent opportunity to restore the two goal lead when they were awarded a second penalty of the game after Alex Pursehouse brought down Tyler Collishaw, however Jan Budtz produced a tremendous save diving low to his left to turn Allott’s spot kick round the post.

Another moment of danger for the Tigers saw Phil Roe head Gaichem’s corner onto the top of the crossbar.

As the half came to a close Worksop started to look more of a force going forward and appeared to have equalised when Shane Clarke’s diving header from Tom Denton’s cross found the back of the net only to be ruled out for offside.

Early in the second half Denton headed Jake Scott’s cross into the path of Mettam who saw his goal bound shot blocked by Jeffs.

At the other end Allott got the better of Salt before seeing his shot well saved by Budtz.

Roe then put a free kick over the bar after Mettam had been fouled on the edge of the box.

The equaliser eventually arrived on 64 minutes via the penalty spot. Muldoon saw his shot well saved by James Hitchcock, but in the ensuing scramble Steve Gardner handled the ball.

Up stepped Mettam to send the ‘keeper the wrong way with his spot kick.

Two minutes later the Tigers had a glorious chance to take the lead when Clarke and Higginson combined to set up Denton but with the goal at his mercy he missed the ball.

Denton then saw his header from Higginson’s corner cleared off the line as Worksop looked for a winner.

However, on 83 minutes the Tigers suffered a blow when Budtz limped off with a suspected broken foot to be replaced by Jack Barnett.

With the game in added time Allott had an excellent opportunity to win it for the home side shooting straight at Barnett.

After the game Mark Shaw said, “We gave them their goals, we allowed them to use the slope and wind to their advantage, they put some good corners into the box to create some pressure.”

“However, I thought we started to get on top towards the end of the first half and thought one of the disallowed goals should have stood.”

“I’m disappointed we didn’t play our football until the middle of the second half. We had a lot of pressure after scoring the second and had a couple of good chances to win it.”

“All in all a draw is probably fair, but I feel a bit aggrieved not to have picked up all three.”

Frickley Athletic: Hitchcock, Gardner, Villermann (Stratford 90), Picton, Wilcox, Jeffs, Collishaw

(Kenny 80), Bloor (c), Hinsley, Allott, Gaichem. Unused subs: Fearon, Davies, Hood

Goals: Allott (5, 18 pen)

Booked: Bloor (8), Picton (49), Wilcox (59), Jeffs (89)

Worksop Town: BUDTZ 7 (Barnett 83), Pursehouse 6, Roe 6, Scott 5, Hill 5, Salt 5, Muldoon 6, Clarke 5, Denton 5, Mettam (c) 5, Higginson 6 (Cole 75). Unused subs: Hague, McKenzie, Husbands

Goals: Higginson (25), Mettam (64 pen)

Booked: Higginson (4), Roe (46), Clarke (85)

Referee: Mr R Atkin

Attendance: 257