For Brighouse Town last Saturday at home to NPL East Division champions Worksop Town it was a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show which seven days before was a faultless performance in a 2-1 win at Stockton Town.
In this game, Worskop, crowned champions the previous week at home to relegated Tadcaster Albion, celebrated with a six goal showing to delight their travelling fans, which on Non League Day, drew a crowd of 406.
They were on the scoreboard after just three minutes when former Bradford City striker James Hanson netted.
Town did have their chances in that half, with Joshua Grant clear on goal, and just as he pulled the trigger the ball bobbled and he sent his shot over the crossbar. Sam Drake also had a great chance to equalise but he also fluffed his lines when only left facing the Worksop keeper Sebastian Malkowski.
The visitors closed the first half scoring with a Luke Hall goal in the 42nd minute and the prolific Liam Hughes headed home on the stroke of the half-time whistle to make it 3-0, a scoreline which really did not reflect the home side’s commitment.
Brighouse saw useful contributions in the second half from substitute Javelle Clarke, who was denied by Malkowski and in the 78th minute the visiting keeper also denied acting skipper Corey Gregory when parrying his strong shot onto a post and away to safety.
Vaughan Redford then got Worksop’s fourth two minutes later and Hughes set up Hall in the 87th minute for his brace, before on 90 minutes Redford scored his second and his side’s sixth.
Worksop look a strong and skilful side to more than hold their own next season in the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division.
Town now have their work cut out over the next six games to pull away from the relegation area and prevent following Tadcaster Albion or having to play a play-off game with a team from Step 5, which would be at home seeing as they are a Step 4 club.
Going into the weekend’s game to ninth-placed Cleethorpes Town (3pm), Town are 15th of the 20 clubs. They are still without skipper Tom Haigh, who has one more game to serve of a three-match suspension, but will be available away to Shildon on Tuesday night (7.45).
Town will be running coaches to both matches and Saturday’s coach will leave the Dusty Miller at Hove Edge at 11am and on Tuesday it will leave the same pick up point at 4pm.
Manager Vill Powell says his charges are fully committed to bagging points between now and the last game of the season away to Long Eaton United on Saturday, April 22.
Its very doubtful striker Laurence Sorhaindo will play in any of those games but he has returned from a specialist this week with news he does not need an operation on his meniscus injury to his right knee, which is healing by the day.
Wing-back Mohammed Ibrahim is making slow progress from his ankle ligament injury sustained earlier this month and he may well make a comeback for the last two games of the season.
The club’s academy side entertain Mossley today at 12 noon (Thursday) and in the evening 150 regional coaches will be descending on the Yorkshire Payments Stadium for a coaching session towards their coaching badges with the Brighouse Town squad and U23 players participating under the West Riding County FA’s Senior Football Development Officer Lee Ashforth.
