Tigers win FA Trophy thriller

Tigers secured safe passage, and a £4,000 windfall, with a 3-2 victory at Sandy Lane.

In a see-saw battle they took an early lead, fell behind and then came back to win with a late penalty.

Jon Worsnop was tested early as he rushed out to collect the ball ahead of Curzon’s Matthew Kay, the visiting midfielder swinging an arm at the keeper without the referee spotting it.

The first quarter of an hour brought little in the way of goalmouth action, although Luke Shiels almost connected with Massiah McDonald’s cross and then Joshua Ollerenshaw spilled the ball in his area but Tigers failed to take advantage.

But three minutes later Owain Warlow curled the ball through the middle for Jamie Jackson and the little forward found striker partner McDonald who took a touch and slotted past Ollerenshaw for the opener.

First Division leaders Curzon looked to reply with a quick break of their own after Warlow had given away possession, James Cotterill clearing from his own box.

Worksop weren’t so fortunate when a ball over the top left Warlow for dead and Matthew Purcell’s cross forced an own goal from skipper Cotterill.

And things got even worse for the back four as a ball over the top allowed dangerman Kristian Dennis to ghost into the area and simply knock the ball past Worsnop for 2-1.

A great stop from Ollerenshaw denied Ashley Burbeary who fired at goal, and then the keeper kept Mark Hudson’s curling free-kick out.

With the wind swirling around the ground Curzon repeatedly put the ball over the top, and another mistake by Cotterill gave Purcell the chance to run in on goal, but he blasted over.

McDonald picked up his third yellow in as many games, retaliating to a foul that went unpunished by the referee, and before the interval Shiels was centre of attention - first blocking Kay’s shot in the box, then slipping and having to recover to halt a striker going clean through and finally catching an arm in the face and requiring treatment.

In stoppage time Warlow’s ball through was dummied by Jackson and McDonald powered into the area only to be denied by the keeper.

The second half began well for the hosts who looked to pass and move and stretch their visitors, but the first effort on goal came from a man in blue, Worsnop saving well from Phil Edghill’s 25 yarder.

His midfield partner Jordan Goodeve deservedly went into the book after going through Young with a late challenge.

Worksop levelled the game thanks to the quality of Hudson’s set-piece delivery, the midfielder curling in a dangerous corner that Shiels met with a fine header that Ollerenshaw could do nothing about.

The goal spurred Simon Clark’s men on, winning a series of further corners and a free-kick 30 yards out that Burbeary blasted into the wall and over the bar.

There was relief for Tigers when a raised flag kept the score at 2-2, McDonagh offside as he headed home a rebound from Kay’s header that came off the crossbar.

The woodwork came to Curzon’s rescue as Jackson turned and shot from an acute angle and the ball got trapped between the post and the keeper.