Recap

Workington were good value for this win in Northumberland after another impressive performance secured a second successive win in the north east.

Following on from the success at Whitley Bay, Reds strolled to victory with a bit to spare thanks to a well taken hat-trick from Lewis Reilly.

Goals after 34, 43 and 57 minutes from the popular number nine suggested that he will be an important member of the side this term and, although he left the ground without the match ball, a centre forward scoring goals has got to be a positive.

But, even after two good away wins against decent opposition, Danny Grainger and Terry Mitchell know there is room for improvement with a few players not yet firing on all cylinders.

There is still a fortnight and one more match to iron out a few creases from those who started at Woodhorn Lane whilst there is a good argument for inclusion for the likes of Hubbold, Rigg, Casson, Leslie, McCaragher, Bell and Tait, all of whom have impressed throughout July.

And both trialists deserve a place in the squad, based on what we have seen from the young goalkeeper and midfielder, respectively, so far.

So, still plenty of food for thought for the management duo with the start of the season just around the corner.   

Both sides still looked a bit rusty in the early stages of this encounter with a number of promising attacks petering out in the final third at both ends of the pitch.  The hosts broke through Reds’ rearguard several times but Craig Spooner, twice, Cameron Gascoigne and Danny Maguire couldn’t find an end product from promising situations.

Likewise, Kofi Moore was getting behind Ashington lines on a regular basis but the final pass or cross wasn’t quite right.  And his two efforts at goal saw one well saved by home ‘keeper, Ross Coombe, and another miss the target completely.

But a fine finish from Reilly after thirty-four minutes opened the scoring and Workington never looked back after that.  Reilly received the ball from Dav Symington and, with no one in close proximity, he sent an accurate low shot into the left-hand corner of Coombe’s net from twenty-five yards.

His second goal, two minutes before the break, owed as much to his awareness as it did to the quality of the finish.  Sensing that Ashington defender Max Emmerson was in a bit of a tangle, Reilly intercepted a back pass that was way short and slotted the ball into the net from an acute angle.

And twelve minutes into the second half, the life of Reilly became even more content when he completed a fine hat trick.  His third goal was probably the pick of the three and smartly netted with his left foot after the path to goal on his right was blocked.  He kept his cool in a crowded box, switched direction and netted with aplomb.

The final half hour signalled a mass influx of substitutes and the pleasing thing from a Reds perspective was the seamless transition.  And some of those coming on looked as good, if not better, than the colleague they replaced.

Ashington looked a bit dis-jointed in the later stages and they couldn’t keep the ball long enough to cause Reds any real issues. 

Grainger is more than content with his numbers at present but, like all good managers, is always on the look-out for the player, or players, that would improve his squad.

Ashington: Coombe, Dopson, Summerly, Emmerson, Buddle, Lough, Gascoigne, Sampson, Maguire, Spooner, Ross.  Substitutes – Errington, Exley, Aziakonou, Rounsfell, Franklin, Hardy, Mullen, Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Dryden.

Workington: Atkinson (Trialist), Wallbank, Roxburgh, Wordsworth, Smith, Carroll, Symington, Moore K, Reilly, Allison, Tinnion.  Substitutes – Casson, Trialist, Hubbold, Tait, Rigg, McCaragher, Bell, Leslie.

Referee: Kieran Graham

Bookings: Wordsworth, Symington (Workington)

Attendance: 350