Worsborough Bridge Athletic – Park Lane

With my beloved Sheffield United on the road in the Welsh capital, I was gifted with an opportunity to visiting a local non-league club whom I had longed to visit. Their opponents were Rotherham based club, Parkgate FC.

It would prove to be my third outing to see Parkgate but my first to Park Lane (Pinto Property Stadium for commercial reasons), to witness Worsborough Bridge Athletic in action.

The ground is small but adequate for the club's needs. There is a main stand with seated area on benches. It is, perhaps, worth mentioning that I was sat on the back row, whilst the changing room to the right has a small standing area for supporters. Adjacent to the main stand is a small, terraced area, giving a different view of the ground.

The entrance was one man on a turnstile, charging supporters £5 per adults and £3 for concessions – reasonably priced for this level of football. Overall, the club, and supporters were welcoming, and no doubt I will make a return to this splendid football club in the future.

Former Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Swindon Town manager (to name a few), Danny Wilson was in attendance, plugging and signing his new book as well as celebrating The Briggers 100-year anniversary as a football club.

The South Yorkshire Town of Barnsley is rich in football heritage. Naturally, Oakwell is your immediate ground that springs to mind but within three miles of the Reds is Worsborough Bridge Athletic, who apply their trade in the Northern Counties East League Division One.

Worsborough Bridge Athletic 0-1 Parkgate Saturday, 12th November 2022 - 3:00 PM

It would be fair to say that Parkgate got the victory that they thoroughly deserved, although, both sides, in contrast, were poor in quality and lack any ambition in the final third. Parkgate, for their efforts edged the proceedings and it took the only meaningful shot on target (throughout the match) to decide this boxing match between two South Yorkshire sides.

Unsurprisingly, both sides are lavishing in the bottom doldrums of the division, with Parkgate rooted to the bottom, and Worsborough not far behind.

There was a close moment after 26 minutes when a Parkgate ball into the box was pushed onto the bar by the Athletic keeper following a scramble in the box.

Seven minutes the visitors #9 saw his effort pushed over from his effort from the edge of the area.

Worsborough was unfortunate that they were forced into a substitution midway through the first half due to an injury in the defence.

There was a big incident on the hour mark when a dangerous challenge on a Parkgate player, towards the Worsborough goal next to the corner flag. A melee occurred following a sliced challenge and following the hustle and bustle, the referee issued a yellow card for the challenge and a red card to the Briggers #10 for violent conduct.

The visitors finally had the ball in the back of the net in the final ten minutes when Jordan Nodder’s flashed effort 20 yards from goal was too good for the home keeper as the ball flashed beyond his reach and nestled into the bottom right-hand corner.