A first half strike proved enough for Worksop Town to spring a surprise and win all three points at The Brewery Field as Moors’ play-off hopes took a huge hit.
Lewis Whitam found the net late on in the first period with a cool finish to secure National League North safety for The Tigers.
The visitors started the game well, as Mason O’Malley’s powerful effort from the edge of the area had to be blocked by Dan Jones, before Vaughan Redford fired narrowly wide soon after.
Moors looked to cause problems from a left-wing corner as Mackenzie Heaney’s floated ball into the area found Jones. However, his glanced header dropped wide of the right post with 15 minutes on the clock.
Both Whitham and Alexsandrs Starcenko took aim from the edge of the box, only for their efforts to be dealt with by Moors men.
Craig Parry’s side broke the deadlock with three minutes of the half remaining. A delivery from the right found the head of Hamza Bencherif, who flicked the ball on to Whitham at the back post. The number 21 took a touch, before cutting onto his right foot and firing a low effort into the back of the net, wrongfooting Brad James.
Moors came out for the second half with intent and almost found the leveller on the 56th minute. A smart ball over the top found Rob Ramshaw completely unmarked inside the area. The number 10 took a touch before firing an effort towards the bottom right corner, only for Lewis Forshaw in The Tigers’ goal to somehow divert the shot wide.
Starcenko looked to carve out a chance from the right-hand side, only to see his cross to the near post claimed by James.
Tommy MIller and Matty Dolan’s side went close on the counter as Ramshaw slipped McKeown forward down the right-hand side. The winger drove towards the penalty area before being forced off the ball by Deegan Atherton.
A half chance went begging for Worksop on the 67th minute, when Liam Waldock fired well wide of the mark, before McKeown’s header deflected upwards and into the arms of Forshaw soon after.
Moors almost dragged themselves onto level terms with eight minutes to go when a ball into the area from the left-hand side bobbled around inside the area. McKeown looked to force the ball home with a prodded effort, only for it to be cleared off the line.
The visitors wasted a huge opportunity to double their lead in the 84th minute when Oliver Greaves squared the ball to Waldock 10 yards from goal. The number 26 went with a first-time effort, only to somehow fire the ball over the bar.
Substitute, Junior Mondal took aim with an ambitious effort from distance five minutes from the end, only to see the low driven effort bobble wide of the mark, failing to trouble Forshaw.
The Tigers had another huge opportunity with two minutes of normal time to go, when Jordan Burrow broke away from the Moors defence of the half-way line before driving towards goal. The substitute hit a low effort towards James’ net, only for the Moors shot stopper to come up with a huge save with his right foot.
Full Time: Moors 0 Worksop Town 1
Moors: James, Pollock, Jones, Hill, Stephenson (Nouble 83), Dolan (Mondal 75), Heaney, McKeown, Ramshaw, Salkeld (Foreman 66), Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson, Hancox, Williams, Hughes.
Booked: Hill (23).
Worksop Town: Forshaw, Atherton, Bencherif, Wilde, O’Malley, Greaves, Redford, Waldock, Starcenko, Whitham (Waterfall 79), Whyte-Hall (Burrow 74).
Subs not used: Wedgbury, Rollins, Tarima, Sanders.
Booked: Greaves (90).
Referee: Samuel Bragg
Attendance: 1,234
Report by Noah Betts