Recap

Reds lifted the Whitehaven Cup at Aspatria’s expense as recently as May but this pre-season run out was a chastening experience for the new kids on the block.

Yet, as bizarre as it seems, Workington were in the game for the opening half hour with their neat and tidy possession football keeping the County League title favourites at arm’s length.

But Reds deficiencies were obvious when they didn’t have the ball, enabling Aspatria all the time and space they needed to score as and when they pleased.

Reds suffered a blow with less than two minutes on the clock when skipper Elliot Lowrie fell to the ground in agony after he appeared to twist his knee.

But a bright opening spell was rewarded with a fine goal in the tenth minute.  Louis Webster released Dan Whitehead down the left and his cross fell into Matty Foster’s path and he confidently converted the first goal of the evening.

Aspatria rallied and goals after fifteen and twenty minutes saw them get their noses in front, although it was still a contest at that point.  But three more goals before half time saw the hosts firmly in control with Reds’ problems all of their own making.

They steadied the ship for a while after the interval before conceding a sixth and a seventh.

Louis Moore’s cross deceived the goalkeeper and floated over him into the net for a consolation goal only for the hosts to score an eighth soon after.

And having started the scoring, Reds also netted the final goal when Josh Palmer netted a third, the eleventh of the match, just before the end.

For the record, Aspatria’s goals were shared by Dan Pearson and Malcolm Graham, both of whom helped themselves to hat-tricks with Wayne Iredale and Richard Hudson completing the rout.

Team: Scott Paden Gale, Hayden Percival, Dan Whitehead, Robbie Wilson, Zach Lister, Coby Bell, Louis Webster, Cain Pears, Josh Palmer, Elliot Lowrie, Hayden Rae.  Substitutes – Aaron Lister, Matty Foster, Lewis Moore, Thomas Downes, Milo Cooke, Luke Whitehead (all used).