Last season, Radcliffe had the most successful FA Trophy run in the club’s 75-year history, eventually exiting the competition at home against Barnet in the Fourth Round. Our 49th campaign now begins as Worksop Town visit the Neuven Stadium with both sides aiming to reach the Third Round.

The Opposition

After last season’s fifth-placed finish, followed by play-off disappointment, Worksop Town have made a good start to the 2024/25 campaign. Currently second in the table on goal difference, the foundations are in place for a potential challenge at the play-offs, with promotion being the aim come April.

Only one side at Step Three has scored more goals than the Tigers, as Worksop have scored 38 goals in just 17 league matches; over two goals a game. An impressive stat the visitors can boast is that six members of the Worksop squad have netted over five times in all competitions, meaning their potent forward line can attack with force from all angles.

Having retained a large number of the squad from the last campaign, the Tigers’ defensive improvements are apparent with the current side performing slightly better when compared the 2023/24 statistics.

Despite their positive league position, Worksop visit the Neuven Stadium with just two wins in their last six matches in all competitions. A 2-0 win over a struggling FC United side and an impressive 3-0 victory over mid-table Whitby Town being the only two triumphs. However, the remaining four matches are a quadruple of defeats by a combined score of 3-10.

Ones to Watch

Worksop’s top goalscorer Jordan Burrow will need to be kept quiet if Radcliffe are to progress in the competition. After scoring five in his first ten appearances, the forward went cold throughout September, but has found his scoring boots as of late. A hat-trick on the road at Hurst Cross kickstarted a run of goals that has seen the attacker net seven in his last seven.

Hamza Bencherif is a no-nonsense centre half, as well as the leader at the back for the Tigers. The experienced defender was named as his side’s Player of the Month for September, and is key to organising the defence in front of Tommy Taylor’s goal.

Stat Pack

National League North (Step 2) – Division – NPL Premier Division (Step 3)
21st – League Position – 2nd
17 – Games Played – 17
17 – Points – 31
4 – Wins – 10
5 – Draws – 1
8 – Losses – 6
21 – Goals For – 38
30 – Goals Against – 18
Brad Roscoe, Josh Hancock (5) – Top Goalscorer – Jordan Burrow (12)

Last Time Out

When the two outfits last met in February, Radcliffe left the Windsor Foodservice Stadium with the points shared, which was remarkably the Boro’s first draw of the campaign at that stage.

Unlike the goal-filled action of the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the sides played out a tense 1-1 affair. Josh Hancock opened the scoring in the fourth minute but Radcliffe were unable to build on their advantage, instead Worksop Town were level half-an-hour later as Jay Rollins found the back of the net for the hosts.

On Jude Oyibo’s return to the starting eleven, the winger ghosted past his man inside the first five minutes, before he pulled the ball back to Hancock on the edge of the area. The attacking midfielder was calm and controlled as he nonchalantly found the back of the net.

The Boro almost scored immediately from the restart, but Jordan Hulme’s curled effort was tipped over the bar by Sebastian Malkowski. It almost went from bad to worse for the Tigers when Nicky Adams won the ball back on the edge of the 18-yard area, but his shot hit the frame of the goal and bounced clear.

After threatening several times during the half, Worksop drew level in the 32nd minute. Hamza Bencherif brought down a deep free kick into the area and Rollins capitalised, as he poked the ball into the back of the net from close range.

The second half was stop-start, and neither side was able to take control to secure all the points on offer.

Matchday Information

Date: 16/11/24
Time: 3pm kick-off
Location: Neuven Stadium

Adult: £15
Concession: £10
U16: £3

Tickets can be purchased online here.

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