Recap
It was a rearguard action for much of this goalless stalemate but Workington’s efforts deserved some reward.
They worked hard without the ball for long periods, stuck to the task throughout and remained disciplined over the full ninety minutes.
Having said that, they restricted United to a handful of chances and goalkeeper Alex Mitchell, one of several in the home dressing room with a reference to Carlisle United on his CV, was called upon just three times to protect his clean sheet.
The ‘keeper, now in his third spell with Reds, dealt with all the routine stuff thrown in his direction and he and his new colleagues defended the ten corners United forced.
Paul Simpson, recovering from a recent knee operation and watching from the ‘not so posh seats’, commented, “I thought we were a little bit sloppy at times, a bit slow on the ball and failing to move it as quickly as I wanted us to. But it was a good physical workout for both sides.”
Workington, after all their work in their defensive third of the pitch, had a golden chance to win the game thirteen minutes from time. Steven Rigg intercepted Aaron Hayden’s back pass and had a clear view of Jude Smith’s goal but he blazed the ball over the bar and the chance for a bit of personal glory was gone.
Rigg was at Brunton Park and a team mate of Charlie Wyke during the latter’s first spell at Brunton Park.
I suppose both would have been short odds to score for their respective teams but Rigg’s chance fell after Wyke’s work for the afternoon had long finished and it was satisfying that grey-shirted Reds kept United’s marquee signing relatively quiet.
Sam Hetherington, a player familiar to both clubs, had looked United’s best option for a goal during the first hour of play.
Reds used sixteen players overall with a few teenagers on the pitch by the end. United, in contrast, started and finished with different XIs.
Workington boss Mark Fell was pleased with the display and said, “The manner of the performance, certainly without the ball, was outstanding and I hope we can replicate the effort against Morecambe next week and maintain our progression.”
Workington: Mitchell, Trialist, Galloway, Little (Casson), Swinglehurst, Trialist, Symington (Walker), Hubbold (Trialist), Rigg (Trialist), Nugent, McCaragher (Martin). Substitute – Eccles (not used).
Carlisle United: Lewis (Smith), Harper (Fitzpatrick), Lavelle (Hayden), Robson (Neal), Wyke (Armstrong), Butterworth (O’Donoghue), Ellis (Davies), McGeouch (Charters), Mellish (Vela), Barclay (Thomas), Hetherington (Allan).
Referee: Anthony Backhouse, Brampton
Attendance: 1,214
