Worksop Town Reserves love taking penalties. After the League Cup win on penalties last week, the lads “engineered” a 4-4 draw with visiting Huddersfield League side, Holmbridge, in the County Cup, so that they could have another Penalty taking session.
Holmbridge turned out to be a decent village team, a good mix of “older” heads and youngsters, who set about the game with every intention of winning. They went a goal up on 15 minutes when Worksop Keeper Rodzos struggled to hold on to a cross ball and the ball went in off luckless defender Liam Betts. This was a warning to Worksop which wasn’t heeded as on the 34th minute Sean Hazelden rifled in a second goal for Holmbridge. 0-2, could Worksop hang on until half-time, well actually they did better than that as Jamie Mudd fired in a reply a minute before the break.
The teams emerged for the second half and Worksop had made two changes bringing Sinclair on for Musariri and Chukwujama on for Yakyi. The score was all square on 55 minutes as Harry Roddis gleefully scored the equaliser. Just 5 minutes later and Worksop were ahead as Jamie Mudd grabbed his second goal. Worksop made two further changes as Bradshaw replaced Clarke and Brennan replaced Mudd. Now then, a lead to hang on to, err no, Jordan Saville crashed in the equaliser for Holmbridge on 65 minutes, 3-3. It was very nearly 3-4 moments later but Rodzos brought off a fine save.
Seemingly within moments though, Jordan Savile got his second and Holmbridge’s fourth as the visitors re-took the lead on 75 minutes. Now what? With 5 minutes left Jamie Purkiss made it 4-4 and the remaining minutes were played out without further score and straight to penalties.
After their showing a week earlier I had not the slightest doubt that Worksop would win. The spectators gathered behind the Clubhouse end goal and Holmbridge won the toss to start first. Their number 9 scored and Ethan Slater levelled. Holmbridge converted their next four and Oscar Clarke, back on as a “rolling substitute”, Harry Roddis, Liam Betts and Kirk Bradshaw nervelessly made it 5-5 so on to sudden death. There was a “sigh” round the ground as the Holmbridge No 7 missed the goal and along came David Chukwujama to finish it. No sign of nerves but the “whoop” of delight as he wheeled away after scoring would have been heard in the town centre. A 6-5 win on penalties and on to the Quarter Final in which Worksop will visit Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves.
Worksop now face an away League game at Yorkshire Main at 2pm next Saturday, before returning to Sandy Lane on Saturday 23rd when Staveley MW will be the visitors.
Worksop team:- Olivier Rodzos; Jamie Purkiss, Leeroy Yakyi, Harry Roddis, Joe Storey, Liam Betts, Oscar Clarke, Dan Gillatt, Jamie Mudd, Ethan Slater. Justin Musariri.
Subs Kian Brennan, Kirk Bradshaw, Josh Sinclair, David Chukwujama.