Toolstation NCEL Division One
Worsbrough Bridge 1-4 Horbury Town
Second half specialists Horbury Town ran riot in the last ten minutes at Worsbrough Bridge to propel themselves into second place.
A 1-1 stalemate was on the cards until referee Gary Hubbard awarded a debatable free kick on the edge of penalty area and sin-binned Worsbrough defender Dempsey Smith – allowing James Cusworth, who had earlier cancelled out Chris Simpkins’ opener, to score with a deflected effort.
Down to ten men and bombing forward, Worsbrough were wide open at the back and Kieran Ceesay and Ben Agu took full advantage.
It was a disappointing finish for Worsbrough who had performed well.
Their first half display was really good.
They were dangerous and were rewarded with Simpkins’ deadlock breaker – a low effort into the far right-hand corner.
Luck also appeared to be on their side as goalkeeper Ross Pritchard saved Cusworth’s first half penalty to keep Worsbrough in front.
Horbury hit back on the hour.
Ben Agu supplied the assist – finding Cusworth in acres of space in the penalty area and the striker was never going to miss.
Horbury were always the more likely to score again but it was tight as both defences were strong.
Eventually Cusworth provided the breakthrough and the floodgates opened.
Cusworth’s mum was presumably punching the air when the second goal hit the net – in not just celebration but relief having gone through a range of emotions.
She thought she was at the wrong game in the opening five minutes as Horbury were wearing different colours to normal and she couldn’t spot her son on-the-field.
Fortunately she asked the right person in Non League Yorkshire’s reporter who took great delight in informing her it was indeed Worsbrough versus Horbury and that her son was stood on the halfway line.
What They Said
Worsbrough Bridge manager Luke Forgione
“It Is always a game of two halves at Worsbrough.
“I thought we were very good in the first half and I think we had a couple of chances to make the game more comfortable.
“They always carried a threat but I thought we were good going downhill in the first half.
“The second half was always going to be difficult playing uphill.
“I think the game was fizzling out to be a 1-1 draw, I don’t think much was happening.
“You could argue Horbury were on the front-foot but nobody was doing much in my opinion.
“The free kick on the edge of the penalty area was arguable.
“One of the lads (Dempsey Smith) complained and got sin-binned and it was a double jammy when it went 2-1.
“The game was dead then. We were a little naive in chasing the game because we were too open then and they cut through us.”
Horbury Town manager Darren Barnes
“It took us 45 minutes to get going, the first half wasn’t good enough.
“Whether we were hungover from the (West Riding County Cup) win at Guiseley on Tuesday, I don’t know but the intensity levels and quality wasn’t there.
“We were probably lucky to be 1-0 down at half-time.
“I know we missed the penalty but we didn’t do anything else in the first half.
“Second half we were much better.
“We dominated the second half and us getting that free kick and them getting that sin bin has killed the game.
“We finished very strongly.”
The Teams
Worsbrough Bridge: Pritchard, Smith, Simpkins, Wilson, Cadzow, O’Connor, Collins, Blake, Jepps, Glavin (captain), Hutchinson. Subs: Wildblood, Kershaw, McQuillan, Holt, Danville.
Horbury Town: Lightowler, Ellis, Playford (captain), Smith, Penn, Sidibie, Kyeremeh, Schofield, Cusworth, Ceesay, Agu. Subs: Hagreen, Evans, G Bojang, Wilson, Awty.
Who Was In Charge
Gary Hubbard (5/10)
How Many Were There
103
Man of the Match
Luke Playford (Horbury Town)
