Recap
Mark Fell has had to wait over three months for his match debut as Workington manager then watched a makeshift side loose its grip on the Shaun Hocking Memorial Trophy.
The home side hadn’t won the cup outright since it was inaugurated in 2011 but cashed in on two passages of sloppy defending from Reds to register a two-goal cushion. And that proved enough in the end as they defended bravely and restricted Workington to one goal.
It was a charity game of course, in memory of a popular man who served both clubs, and the near 200 strong crowd generated £1,157 for the British Polio fund.
Reds boss Fell said they hadn’t learned anything they weren’t aware off and wasn’t too perturbed about the result.
He is confident the necessary recruitment will be made over the next month of pre-season.
Tom Fowler made three fine saves in the first half to deny Dav Symington, twice, and Kai Nugent before Whitehaven took the lead with an own-goal after the unfortunate Martin headed past Danny Eccles in attempting to clear a teasing cross from the right.
And the hosts doubled their lead five minutes later when an Eccles’ handling error was seized upon by Robbie Swinton who promptly fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Both sides made multiple substitutions throughout the second half and although Workington enjoyed the majority of possession and did most of the running, they found Whitehaven in resolute mood.
They reduced the arrears in the seventy-fifth minute to trigger a late rally but Josh Galloway’s fine finish, after Symington’s searching assist, was all they could muster. It capped a fine debut for one of the newcomers who emerged as Reds’ best performer on the night.
Jordan Little did come close to an equaliser only for his shot to rebound off Aaron Carter’s left-hand post.
Workington will face another West Lancashire League team, Coppull United, in their next work-out on Saturday.
