MATCH REPORT: WORKSOP TOWN 4-1 LANCASTER CITY

Worksop Town 4

Lancaster City 1

Second-place Worksop Town confirmed their place in the Pitching In Northern Premier Division playoffs with a 4-1 comeback win over ten-man Lancaster City.

The Nottinghamshire club's title hopes were dashed last weekend with Macclesfield securing top spot with six games still to play, meaning the Tigers can only join the Silkmen in next season's National League North if they are successful in the playoffs.

On the pitch, despite being reduced to ten men after just 13 minutes, the visitors stole a shock lead early in the second half with Lewis Mansell lobbing Worksop's 'keeper Tommy Taylor.

However, this served as a wake-up call for the Tigers with Luke Hall and Liam Hughes scoring either side of a brace from Aleksandrs Starcenko to secure a ninth win on the bounce.

Kick-Off

Unsurprisingly, promotion-chasing Worksop started on the front foot, with Starcenko cutting out a Conor Haughey pass and bending a shot over from 20 yards.

Then on 13 minutes, the game swung massively in the home team's favour.

A long ball forward from Joe Leesley was poorly controlled by Christian Sloan allowing the ball to run through to Starcenko in behind and he was dragged down by the 29-year-old who was subsequently sent off.

This was the third red card the Dolly Blues have received in their last four away games having also been reduced to ten men in their losses at Ilkeston Town and Hyde United.

Worksop struggled to make the man advantage count in the opening period with Craig Parry's side limited to half chances.

After half an hour, a Hughes header from a Leesley free-kick was palmed into the air and then claimed by Lewis Forshaw.

Ten minutes later only the woodwork denied the hosts of an opening goal with Starcenko rattling the upright from range.

Half Time: Worksop Town 0-0 Lancaster City

Prior to the game, Lancaster had failed to score in three of their last five away games but despite this they took a shock lead six minutes after the restart.

From a long kick forward by Forshaw, Mansell got in behind and he lobbed the ball over Taylor and into the far corner from just inside the area for his tenth goal of the campaign.

This proved a wake-up call for Worksop who levelled the scores ten minutes later.

Leesley's cross was only headed away into the path of Hall who volleyed into the bottom corner to score for the second game running.

Six minutes later the turnaround was complete.

Regan Hutchinson delivered a cross from the right wing and it was met by Starcenko whose towering downward header from close range beat Forshaw.

The Latvian midfielder then doubled his tally for the afternoon 11 minutes later to give Worksop some breathing space.

Hall whipped in a cross from the left and once again Starcenko was there to head past Forshaw to make it 3-1 to the Tigers.

The goals kept coming for the hosts with Hughes sealing the three points eight minutes from time.

Again Hall provided the assist, crossing for Hughes who brought the ball down well and his shot on the turn nestled into the bottom corner.

This was the 32-year-old's fifth goal in three games and his 22nd of the season as he leads the goalscoring charts for Worksop.

Full Time: Worksop Town 4-1 Lancaster City

A ninth successive win for Worksop confirms their place in the playoffs and moves them five points clear of third place Guiseley who were held to a draw by strugglers Matlock Town this afternoon.

A second successive defeat away from home, conceding four in both, for Lancaster means they are now only four points and three places clear of the relegation zone.

Their next game is a crucial relegation six pointer away at Whitby Town who currently occupy the final relegation spot.

Meanwhile, Worksop will look to make it 10 wins on the bounce with a trip to 4th place Stockton Town.

Worksop: Taylor, Hutchinson (Atherton 84'), Wilde (Jessop 58'), Leesley, Bencherif, Grist, Hall, Starcenko, Burrow (Wedgbury 84'), Hughes, O'Malley. Subs not used: Tomlinson, Martin.

Goals: Hall 62', Starcenko 68', 79', Hughes 82'

Lancaster: Forshaw, Bailey (Shaw 83'), Cox (Bjork 78'), Beeden, Haughey, Sloan, Moonan (Evangelinos 77'), Mansell, McLean (Bennett 83'), Lawson (Caine 66').

Goals: Mansell 52'

Red Cards: Sloan 13'

ATT: 764

By Nathan Williams