A STRONG second-half fightback by Ossett and a dubious penalty denied Town's youngsters victory in a bruising friendly at Ingfield last night.

Leading 2-0 at the break thanks to excellent goals by impressive Steve Kenworthy and wideman Adnan Ahmed, Town were dominating amid some ferocious tackles on a very lush pitch.

Their UniBond League First Division hosts, however, made several changes at half time and looked a much stronger unit in the second half.

Ossett got themselves back in the match when powerful centre- back Rob Nugent was left unmarked at a free-kick and planted a free header past Phil Senior on 63 minutes.

Only three minutes later, Ossett then got a massive stroke of luck when Jonathan Worthington made what looked an excellent tackle on the raiding Rich Fiddler, only to be penalised by the award of a spot kick.

It was an extremely harsh decision, but Ossett substitute Andy Shelton - son of the ex-Sheffield Wednesday star Gary - fired unerringly to Senior's left to equalise.

Manager Peter Jackson watched intently as Town took control from the off and he can't have failed to have been impressed by young Kenworthy, the senior squad member who has a turn of pace and an eye for goal.

It was good to see Dwayne Mattis in action for the first time this pre-season and he had had a crashing shot turned against the bar by goalkeeper Mick Clark by the time Kenworthy opened the scoring on the half hour.

John McAliskey put the ball through and with only the goalkeeper to beat, Kenworthy skilfully lifted his shot into the middle of the net.

Mattis missed a great chance to extend the lead just a minute later after Worthington had been tripped in the box, but his driven penalty was well turned away by the agile Clark.

Kenworthy then turned provider, using his pace to outstrip Ossett right-back Paul Fleming before squaring for Ahmed to score from close range six minutes before the break.

Mark Lambert was quickly substituted by Ossett after a nasty challenge on McAliskey and, at half time, Town sent on another senior squad member, Joe Washington, for his first run-out since breaking a leg for the second time.

He looked strong and eager and put in some solid challenges in a heated midfield battle, but chances were few for Town, who had an own goal by David Briggs wiped out for a push by McAliskey on the defender.

Town: Senior, Holdsworth, Lloyd, McCombe, Scott, Worthington, Mattis (Washington HT), Ahmed, Preston, McAliskey, Kenworthy. Subs not used: Young, Hardy, Giles, Collins, Tunnacliffe.

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