Recap
Two very young teams served up an entertaining Cumberland Cup tie at Seathwaite Avenue with the holders making straightforward progress to the next round and Mirehouse taking the plaudits for an enterprising display.
Reds boss Mark Fell made eight changes to the team that got the better of Whitby Town last time out and gave youth a fling. Jordan Little captained the side and fellow senior players Brad Hubbold and Danny Eccles lined-up alongside seven teenagers.
Workington were in front after eleven minutes but won the match either side of the interval. Their second goal came just before the break, followed by a three-goal blast in six second half minutes just after the restart.
But for half an hour in the first half and the last thirty minutes of the second, Mirehouse were in contention, played some decent football and created a few chances.
The best of which was twelve minutes before the end when Jordan Priestley’s well struck shot rebounded off the cross bar with Danny Eccles helpless. And good efforts in each half almost got the County League side on the score sheet.
Tyler Beck’s strong side-foot finish, via Kadyn Kamara’s corner, opened the scoring but Reds weren’t allowed to settle by an enthusiastic Mirehouse team. Provider Kamara doubled the advantage with a goal of his own five minutes before the interval.
Brad Hubbold put Kamara in the clear and his twenty yarder was struck well but seemed to deceive Alfie McGuire at the last second with the ball finding a way into the back of the net.
Kamara’s second goal, in the forty-seventh minute, appeared to confuse everyone – players and spectators alike. His direct free-kick was aimed towards the far post and drifted into the corner of the net without any player getting a touch.
Hubbold was involved in the fourth goal, too, providing the pass to Ben McCarron who steadied himself and got the ball past McGuire.
And less than sixty seconds later it was five. Sam Christian picked up the ball on the edge of the area and found the net with a precise finish.
McGuire might have been disappointed with a couple of goals he conceded but he made three excellent saves and handled well throughout and played his part as did his skipper, Reece Healey, who was the outstanding player for the home side.
Reds, as expected, got the job done and were able to rest several players ahead of another Cup tie next week – a home match v. Morpeth Town in the FA Trophy.
Mirehouse: McGuire, Rooney, Healey J, Foster, Healey R, Leeson, Clark, Colaluca B, McAllister, Burns, Wilson. Substitutes – Smith, Fitzsimons, Bayliff, Priestley, Hunter (all used).
Workington: Eccles (Jamieson, 85), Little, Bell, Beck, Wilkinson, Hubbold, Stephenson (Galloway, 68), Christian, McCarron, Kamara (Nugent, 68), Fulton. Substitute – Symington (not used).
Referee: Scott Taylor, Carlisle
Attendance: 163
