A PFA XI made up of players recently released from professional clubs ran out 4-1 winners at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium on Tuesday night, with Liam Hughes grabbing a goal for The Tigers.

 

The PFA dominated the early proceedings, but the Tigers defended well. Tommy Taylor, in particular, was quick off his line to clear multiple lofted balls in the opening ten minutes. James Nolan looked to create something when he brought down a long ball, driving down the right flank and fending off a trialist before picking out Sam Cosgrove with a composed driven pass. The former Barnsley striker made no mistake from close range to score the opener.

 

When Nolan was clipped in behind, he once again found a low ball across the box, allowing Sterling an easy shot at goal from close range, putting the PFA two to the good with just 17 minutes played.

 

A tricky backpass from Dylan Cogill left Tommy Taylor scrambling in the Worksop net, with the experienced keeper managing to head off the line, conceding just a corner from an extremely awkward situation. 

 

Just minutes later, another passback got Town in a muddle with Joe Leesley’s kick ending up in Taylor’s hands, the referee awarding an indirect free-kick. Mohammed Sangare could only find the wall after being teed up around 15 yards out.

 

Worksop reduced the deficit minutes before the break, with Liam Hughes hooking onto the end of a quality cross from Deegan Atherton and fending off his marker to volley an unstoppable strike into the top right corner.

 

Game on then, and it could’ve been level soon after the restart had Liam Hughes not seen his headed effort from a Joe Leesley cross squeeze narrowly over the bar. Leesley again picked out a man, this time Hamza Bencherif from a corner, but the Tigers’ captain could only get his shot caught by Chapman.

 

When Tariq Uwakwe looked to test Tommy Taylor from outside the penalty area, he did so with a dipping effort that would’ve found the upper echelons of the net if not for the Worksop keeper’s incredible effort to get across his goalline and tip the ball over the bar.

 

Taylor was called back into action shortly afterwards when Kane Hemmings was played one-on-one. Taylor remarkably saved his first attempt, but after a scramble in the penalty area, Hemmings made no mistake the second time, finishing coolly into the bottom right corner.

 

Shortly after, Jermaine Hylton made it four after rounding Taylor to slot home from close range.

 

Oscar Clark nearly made a huge contribution just three minutes after coming on, his powerful near-post strike just about matched by Chapman in the PFA net. Taylor was equal to two well-hit free kicks in the closing stages, firstly from Uwakwe, whose effort was tipped over, and lastly from Ash Hunter, who struck his effort on the keeper’s side but couldn’t beat Taylor.

 

Next up for The Tigers is National League side Tamworth on the 12th of July, as we continue our preparations for the upcoming Enterprise National League North season at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium.

 

Line up Red Star 

Tommy Taylor, Regan Hutchinson, Deegan Atherton, Joe Leesley, Hamza Bencherif ©, Dylan Cogill, Vaughan Redford (Trialist B 45’), Aleks Starcenko (Trialist C 45’), Lewis Whitham, Liam Hughes, Trialist A (Dan Bramall 45’)

 

Doelpuntenmakers

Sam Cosgrove 9’, Kaziah Sterling 17’, Kane Hemmings 69’, Jermaine Hylton 74’

 

Final Score

Worksop Town 1-4 PFA XI

 

Words: James MacDonald-Williams

Photo: Lewis Pickersgill