Recap
Two stunning goals from David Symington completed a near perfect away performance to see Reds leapfrog Clitheroe and top the NPL West Division table.
The in-form attacker scored ten minutes into the game and ten minutes from the end to help inflict a first defeat upon a decent Shawbridge outfit, who failed to score for the first time this season.
Chris Willcock pulled another rabbit out of the hat, handing Donae Lawrence a NPL debut and the long-striding, skilful midfielder impressed the vociferous away support.
Previously with Liversedge, Lawrence was just one of many green-shirted players to catch the eye in a display which made a mockery of the current injury crisis.
Played in a good spirit throughout, and superbly refereed, this game was a good advertisement for Step 4 football, suggesting both will be promotion contenders this term.
That might be a bit presumptuous with thirty four games to go but, on the evidence of this entertaining encounter, they should feature prominently.
It was Symington who chipped in a sublime free-kick to open the scoring after just ten minutes – his measured shot from just outside the box deceived the Clitheroe wall and goalkeeper, Chris Thompson, to give Workington the lead.
It was an advantage the Cumbrians should have doubled, or even trebled, in a dominant first half performance.
Debutant Lawrence anticipated a flick-on from Scott Allison and broke through on goal down the inside left channel. He looked a good bet to score but Thompson was quick off his line to block the shot.
And it was Thompson who came to Clitheroe’s rescue again, soon after. He shovelled away another Symington block-buster which was bound for the bottom corner of his net.
Lawrence’s clever run and dribble culminated in a chance for Allison but the skipper hurried his shot and lifted the ball over the bar.
Luck was against him soon after when he scored from close range after Brad Hubbold and Rowan Roache combined to lay on the opportunity. But Allison was adjudged offside when he netted, much to Clitheroe’s relief.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Clitheroe created a few half chances before half time. Richie Baker saw one effort go wide, Billy Priestley headed over the bar via Danny Wilkins’ corner and captain Sefton Gonzales’ header, although on target, lacked the power to trouble Jim Atkinson.
Ross Dent was first to try his luck after the interval but he, too, sent his effort over the bar.
Lawrence wasn’t as effective in the second half as he had been in the first but, once again, was thwarted by ‘keeper Thompson. The latter parried his goal bound shot and former Clitheroe player, Iyrwah Gooden, blasted the rebound over the bar.
When play switched to the other end, Taylor Brickell, tried his luck with an overhead kick but was wide of the target.
But Workington sealed the win, after seventy nine minutes, with another spectacular strike from the Symington portfolio. His explosive turn of pace took him past ex. Red, Cole Lonsdale, and an unstoppable cross-shot arrowed past Thompson and into the far corner of the net.
The points were heading back to west Cumbria but the over exuberant celebrations by scorer, Symington, and manager, Chris Willcock, left the referee with no option other than to book the match winner and the Workington boss!
A wonderful, solid performance from the back four of Matty Clarke, Kyle Harrison, Sam Smith and Kieran Charlton laid the foundation for Reds to venture forward at every opportunity and the front six all made positive contributions, Symington in particular.
Atkinson dealt with corners, crosses and back passes all afternoon and parried, then gathered, a well struck Wilkins’ shot near the end to deny the hosts a consolation goal. He remains unbeaten in over 360 minutes of League football this term.
A perfect way to end a busy schedule of four games in ten days, before Reds go again on Saturday.
Clitheroe: Thompson, Stopforth (Mills, 85), Lonsdale, Baker, Burke, Priestley, Edwards (Gaul, 71), Wilkins, Gonzales, Dent, Connelly (Brickell, 66). Substitutes – Hodds, Chalashka (not used).
Workington: Atkinson, Clarke, Charlton, Harrison, Smith, Hubbold, Gooden, Lawrence, Allison, Roache, Symington. Substitutes – Casson, Howarth, Burns, Whitehead, Eccles (none used).
Referee: Abid Hussain, Bolton
Bookings: Lonsdale, Dent (Clitheroe), Symington, Willcock (Workington)
Attendance: 675
