Train (Sheffield to Worksop): £5-50
Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Tea (x2): £2
Total: £19-50
I was back on the King’s Lynn away trail at Sandy Lane, Worksop, for a wet September evening. My second away of the season and it was another ‘W’ – maybe a trend was developing? I’d been there on three previous occasions – for a photos outside the ground in 2009, a Worksop Parramore vs Pontefract NCEL clash in 2012, and a King’s Lynn FA Trophy game in November last year. After Worksop Town’s financial difficulties, and I understand a dispute with the owners of the ground, Worksop played in exile in Hucknall for a couple of years. As a result, Sandy Lane is actually owned by Worksop Parramore, originally a county league team, and promoted to the NCEL in recent years. And of course, Parramore are planning a merger with Handsworth. Worksop Town, on the other hand, are at a higher level in the Evostik Premier, and have arguably ‘found their level’ in this league.
I travelled straight from work in Manchester, and met my Mum at Worksop station at 7.15, arriving at the ground in plenty of time for kick off. It made me realise that evening games will be a stretch now that I have a trans-Pennine commute to contend with! Entry, like last year’s FA Trophy game, was £10, which seems the going rate at this level. It sounds like a lot compared to the £6 I paid to see Dr Martens football in the late 1990s, but I guess that costs have gone up for all clubs these days. After the obligatory tea, we took up our seats at the far end behind the goal we were attacking; in fact we were almost directly behind the goal, and the saw most of the first half through the net. Actually not a bad spot to take up if you have good eyesight!
The game started just after 8 due to delays on the A1 – when it did begin the teams looked evenly matched. King’s Lynn, as in the game vs Witton, were keen to get the ball on the floor and forward quickly, but lacked enough penetration to break down a physical Worksop defence. Worksop looked strong in midfield, and created a few chances before the deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Cottingham hit a fantastic shot into the top corner. I could appreciate the skill involved because we could see the ball arrow into the back of the net. King’s Lynn looked superior after that, and did look like equalising before half-time, but couldn’t quite convert their chances, so went in 1 nil down at the break.
Almost from the second half kick-off, King’s Lynn looked hungry for it, and quickly equalised through a great reflex volley from Shane Tolley. Shortly after, Fryatt headed in a corner, and we had a 2-1 lead. The home side still looked dangerous, particularly after they made a double substitution. The King’s Lynn goalkeeper Danny Gay made a terrific save to deny them, tipping a goal-bound shot round his right-hand post. The game was very open, and we left gaps at the back as we powered forward for a third. There was some crisp passing in King’s Lynn’s midfield, who were creating neat triangles all over the pitch. Then, just after 75 minutes, Worksop were reduced to 10 men when their defender gave away a penalty to King’s Lynn as the last man. Rob Duffy converted the resulting penalty to make it 3-1, and by now we were all over the home side. As the home crowd shuffled to the exits, King’s Lynn grabbed a fourth, with Duffy slotting in from close range. A great result and a deserved win before I headed off to an FA Cup qualifier at the weekend.
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