The Tigers eased past Penistone Church FC 5-0 but from two leagues below, the Church gave a great account of themselves.

Worksop were firing on all cylinders in the first half. Nine minutes in and a low cross from Luke Hall fell to Liam Hughes. Unmarked and at the edge of six-yard box, he placed the ball bottom left to open the scoring.

Hall persisted up the left wing, with quick feet and a stunning first touch, eventually setting up Vaughan Redford who danced around the defence to find the net and doubled their lead.

Penistone began mounting pressure with five minutes to go until half time. Then Worksop hit them on the counter, with Terry Hawkridge being put through on goal by Regan Hutchinson.

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Liam Hughes scoring the opening goal.

After a well-timed triple substitution, Penistone got back into the game, working the ball up the pitch and getting a few shots off. 

In their own box they didn’t give Worksop the space they’d afforded them in the first half and the defence could breathe.

Despite the Church’s best efforts, Worksop’s quality shone through, and Hughes received the ball in the box. With a quick pass he put Jordan Burrow through on goal to seal the win.

Barely two minutes had passed, and Hall found space after latching onto a through ball in the Penistone box and won a penalty getting knocked down with a late challenge. Hughes rifled it in the net to get his brace and seal the trophy.

Penistone will be hoping to build on last season, having narrowly missed out on the playoffs.

Worksop will be hoping this win takes them into another season where they’ll be fighting for promotion after heartbreak in the play-offs earlier this month, now as joint record holders of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Men’s Senior County Cup.

Written by Dan Hickey.

Photography by Alex Young.