Match Report: Worsbrough Bridge AFC 4-1 Parkgate

Parkgate’s winning run of eight games comes to an end away at Worsbrough.

Attendance: 79

Parkgate visited Park Road on the back of 8 consecutive wins but today’s opponents of Worsbrough Bridge Athletic offered a different challenge to the in-form Parkgate side.

From the off, both sides came out to try and get the first goal, and after five minutes Worsbrough had a half chance when Wordsworth shot from a tight angle which resulted in a routine Chris Butt save. The home side could add to their bit of pressure, when Starosta crossed from just inside the opposition half from a free-kick, which was crossed deep into the Worsbrough 18 yard box but neither Owen Fieldsend or Reece Hands could get on the end of the cross.

After 18 first half minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty when Parkgate centre-back Matt Crookes went to clear the ball before a Worsbrough man nicked in and the free-flying Crookes boot caught the opposition player and the referee Jamie Waters’ pointed to the spot. The penalty kick was calmly slotted into the bottom left corner by Kieran Hirst, sending Chris Butt the wrong way.

Parkgate could and probably should have levelled the game up 10 minutes later when Bruno Holden got down the side of the Worsbrough defence before crossing to his strike partner’ Brandon Bagley, who could only head the ball inches wide of the post.

Brandon Bagley soon made up for his missed attempt minutes before, when he chased down a loose ball in-behind the Worsbrough defence, until the goalkeeper came rushing out off his goal-line before taking out Bagley and the referee pointing to the spot again, but this time for Parkgate. Holden had to wait a bit of time until he could take the penalty, with Bagley receiving treatment and the Worsbrough players in protest to the referee. However, Holden wasn’t distracted by the ongoing events and he also calmly put his penalty past the keeper’, just like Hirst did earlier in the half.

Worsbrough managed to get back in front when Parkgate keeper Chris Butt kicked the ball straight into the path of Worsbrough striker Wordsworth, who had an easy finish to give the home side a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Half-Time: Worsbrough Bridge AFC 2-1 Parkgate

It wasn’t till the 66th minute for the second half to get some life into it, when Hirst got his second and Worsbrough’s third of the game, when he received the ball inside the Parkgate penalty area and managed to find the corner of the net, giving Worsbrough a much deserved 3-1 lead.

Shortly after, the home side made it 4 when they finally made the most of Scott Batty’s long throw-in when Jack Waldren managed to get on the end of the giant throw and flick it past Butt to make it 4-1 to the home side with only 10 minutes left.

Full-Time: Worsbrough Bridge AFC 4-1 Parkgate

Today’s loss sees Parkgate miss out on a great opportunity to climb above Worsbrough Bridge in the table.

Starting XI: Chris Butt, Ben Starosta, Freddie Russell, Matt Crookes, Owen Fieldsend, Elliott Simpson(c), Reece Hands, Simon Harrison, Bruno Holden, Brandon Bagley, Josh Hobson.

Substitutes: Haydn Ward, Alex Pugh, Brad Davies.