Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

WORKSOP TOWN 0 - 2 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Monday 9th April 2007

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods kept the Nationwide North title firmly within their grasp with this comfortable victory over a relegation-threatened Worksop Town outfit at Sandy Lane.

It was the hosts who made the early chances, notably through Ben Saudners and Jon Froggatt, but Paul Phillips remained untested.

Hence, it was somewhat against the run of play when Droylsden took the lead. Terry Fearns latched on to a long punt upfield and kept his cool to lob the stranded Paul Pettinger.

Moments later, Saunders was presented with a chance to level matters for the Tigers from the edge of the box, but he volleyed wastefully over the bar.

The Bloods punished Worksop by doubling their lead as Fearns found himself on the end of Garry Burke's pass to hold off Kevin Dawson before slotting under Pettinger to record his brace and notch the tenth goal that Droylsden have hit past the former Stalybridge custodian this season.

Steve Daly then headed over from a Gareth Morris pass before he had to retire through injury, although it is expected he will be fit for Saturday's visit of Moor Green.

Worskop worked hard after the break and fashoined chances through Froggatt, Kev Davies and Natahn Jarman, but Phillips rarely broke into a sweat.

The Bloods had chances of their own late on to secure matters, but Blake Norton's goal-bound shot from close range was blocked by a defender after Fearns and Jimmy Williams had combined well down the right flank, and then Fearns himself just failed to connect with Norton's cross after a good ball by Morris.

Home skipper Steve Robinson was then a yard off target at the other end, but the scoring had been completed in the first period.

The game was marred, however, by a nasty-looking knee injury to Jimmy Williams in the dying moments due to an accidental contact with a Worksop defender.

Nevertheless, with a maximum points' haul from the Easter fixtures, The Bloods now have just four 'cup finals' left to secure that elusive Nationwide North title.

WORKSOP TOWN: Pettinger, Thompson, Davies, Rowland, Dawson, Jackson, Owens, Robinson, Saunders, Froggatt, Jarman.

SUBS: Fores-Chambers (for Thompson, 89), Pritchard (not used), Staton (not used), Beevor (for Froggatt, 65), Ratcliffe (not used).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Halford 6, Warner 6, Ruffer 7, BURKE 9, Morris 6, Norton 8, Lynch 9, Fearns 7, Daly 8, Fowler 6.

SUBS: Jagielka 6 (for Lynch, 80), Tandy 6 (for Daly, 39), Williams 6 (for Fowler, 78), Kelly (not used), Fitzpatrick (not used).

REFEREE: Mr. R. Burton (Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire)

ATTENDANCE: 393

SCORERS: Droylsden - Fearns (18 and 27)