Tigers hunt promotion as Worksop boss Craig Parry celebrates 'magnificent' milestone win

Former Pontefract Collieries manager Parry took charge in April 2020 and has since led the club to the upper reaches of the Northern Premier League pyramid.

And despite coming into Saturday's game at Sandy Lane without a win in three matches, Worksop defied the odds to strengthen their play-off position and move to within a point of the third-placed Robins with victory.

Their task was made even harder following Vaughan Redford's red card for a second bookable offence midway through the first half.

Photo credit: Darren Murphy

But after the break, goals from Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs Starcenko and prolific frontman Liam Hughes - his 80th in 114 games for the club - saw the Tigers on their way to all three points.

"I thought we were magnificent," Parry said following Saturday's win.

"It's not easy going down to 10 men. We've had to adapt, change the way we play and minimise their chances.

"We put our bodies on the line. It's a good result against a very good side, there's no doubt about that, and there's no doubt that we'll be in the play-offs at the end of the season.

Photo credit: Darren Murphy

"They've worked so hard and given so much for themselves, for their team-mates, for the group.

"We're still fighting, and it's been a really positive couple of weeks for us."

Last season, Worksop reached the play-offs in their first season back in Step 3 before falling to Macclesfield in the semi-finals.

They have hit similar form this time around, scoring 61 goals in 30 league games - a tally bettered only by runaway league leaders Macclesfield, who find themselves 20 points clear at the top.

Three of Worksop's next four league games come against sides in the bottom five, and Parry has urged his players to use the result against Ashton as fuel to kick on between now and the season's end.

Photo credit: Darren Murphy

"There's a good group of lads in there, a talented bunch," he admitted.

"There are many leaders throughout [the team] as well. I think they all deserve a massive pat on the back today, for what they've done for themselves and the football club, to get a result in difficult circumstances.

"We've got to take it week-by-week. We can't get too down if we take a hit, and we can't get too high if we have a rich vein of form.

"It's just three points this week. Now, we've got to regroup, rest the bodies and look to try and claim more points next week."

Photo credit: Darren Murphy

On his 200th game in charge, Parry added: "It's a privilege for me to manage this club.

"In management these days, it's not very often that you get to 200 games at a club, so it's a proud moment and one that I'll cherish."