Tigers Win Boxing Day Thriller - Worksop Town vs. Grantham Town

The stand at Sandy Lane

Considering how poorly Scunthorpe had been playing and that Sheffield United hadn't lost at home in a very long time my Dad and I decided it was best to spend our money watching a local non league side on Boxing Day. We opted to pop in to Nottinghamshire for the Northern Premier League derby between Worksop Town and Grantham Town. Following a couple of years of ground shares, Worksop were back in the town at Sandy Lane. The Tigers were sitting in the play offs while Grantham were in the bottom half of the table. Worksop were looking to avenge a three nil defeat suffered at The South Kesteven Stadium in August.

Kick off at a sodden Sandy Lane

At the start of the game it is difficult to tell which side is in play off contention and which is looking to pull away from the bottom as Grantham make the stronger start. They should be front when the striker finds himself in plenty of space in the box following good work on the wing but he puts his effort wide. They do take the lead shortly afterwards when the Worksop defence fail to deal with a corner and the ball is slammed home from close range. The tall Worksop number nine causes lots of problems for the visiting defence with his height and touch and it is him who gets the home side level as he heads home from a corner.

The Worksop number nine rising to pull his side level

The game really opens up in the second half in the pouring rain. Worksop go ahead for the first time in the game when they score another header from a corner. This time it is one of the shorter play who manages to lose his marker. This fails to deter Grantham and one of the impressive Saunders brothers scores from just outside the box to pull his side level. Both sides push for the winner and Worksop find it with twenty minutes to go. The Worksop attacker is pushed over in the box and the referee points to the spot. The penalty is duly converted and despite a late flurry from the away side, Worksop hold on for the win.

Grantham attack the clubhouse end in the first half

Sandy Lane is about a twenty minute walk from Worksop Station which is served by trains from Lincoln and Sheffield. In the station building itself is The Mallard which had four ales on and has several bottles from a guest brewery every month. The pub also bans phone conversions from the lounge area which was a good touch. The clubhouse looks like it has been recently renovated and was packed as you'd expect on a Boxing Day.

Post match reflection