MATCH REPORT: Kendal Town Youth 2-4 Workington Youth

The young Reds completed their pre-season programme with an encouraging performance and emerged deserved winners in the mini-derby.

Yet, despite dominating a ‘one-sided’ first half, they trailed at the break and then found themselves 2-1 down, as Kendal enjoyed their best spell, but a strong finish secured a morale boosting victory.

Their main problem throughout preseason has been conceding goals and getting punished for sloppy errors, and they twice went behind on this occasion only to bounce back, showing a bit of character in doing so.

They had played less than two minutes when Town opened the scoring through Heber McDonald who showed good strength breaking through before smashing the ball into the net, via the crossbar, from an acute angle.

But Reds dominated the remainder of the half yet lacked composure when they needed it most – in the final third.  The Kendal ‘keeper made two excellent saves, another shot hit the woodwork and three other good chances were squandered.

They did equalise early in the second half when Owen Johnston met an Alfie Scofield corner to head Reds’ level.

But Kendal had their best spell and regained the lead after the visitors got themselves in a tangle at the back, enabling Sam Wilson to restore their advantage.

Workington recovered and finished the stronger with three goals in the last quarter of an hour.

Joe Carney levelled matters from close range, after good play from Sam Christian, then the latter put Reds ahead for the first time before Johnston sealed the win with his second – a well-directed firm header via another Scofield corner.

They will face tougher tests in their debut season in the JPL which gets underway next week when they travel to play Morecambe side, Pause United, in a league cup encounter.

Team: Joseph Rumney, Luke Routledge, Owen Johnston, Jaiden Dickinson, Callum Bell, Ben Carini, Kelvin Amor, Sam Christian, Joe Carney, Jayden Fulton, Alfie Schofield.  Substitute – Logan Carson.