Recap

A third successive victory in the north east brought Workington’s pre-season schedule to a satisfactory conclusion and now the focus is fully on Ashton United and the start of the Northern Premier League campaign.

And, whilst the scoreline suggests a comfortable away win, Dunston will regret the number of chances they squandered.  On the handful of occasions they did find the target, Jim Atkinson thwarted them with a series of good saves.  

At the same time, Workington handed out a lesson in finishing, scoring five quality goals and looking potent every time they ventured forward.

Reds, and Dan Wordsworth in particular, suffered a bit of bad luck in the thirteenth minute.  Put through by Bobby Carroll’s astute pass, the rugged defender swept home a sublime left foot shot in one sweet movement only for the best goal of his career to be ruled out for a marginal offside decision.

It was back to the day job after that with Wordsworth and Sam Smith looking rock solid at the heart of the defence.

Dale Pearson did break through Reds’ backline but a hurried finish was wide of the target.

The opening goal came after twenty-nine minutes with Kofi Moore taking advantage of a gaping gap down the middle to first control and then despatch the ball past Dan Staples.

Staples then made a double save first pushing away a Dav Symington free kick and then punching the ball to safety from Greg McCaragher’s follow-up header.  And the goalkeeper was involved again as Reds doubled their lead five minutes before the interval.

Kofi Moore sent another goal-bound shot towards the bottom corner and Staples saved well but could only deflect the ball into Matty Bell’s path.  He reacted well to side foot the ball home from close range to convert his first goal for the club.

Pearson wasted another chance at the other end and it proved costly with Workington scoring again in the forty-fourth minute.  The ball was only partially cleared by a hard-pressed Dunston defence and Conor Tinnion, lurking inside the ‘D’, lashed the ball home with his trusted left foot.

Symington was off target with his first effort after the interval and saw another more accurate attempt dealt with by Staples.

Similarly, the Dunston skipper, Michael Pearson, scooped a great chance over the bar following a corner and namesake, Dale Pearson, was denied by Atkinson before David Robinson dragged a great chance wide.

Having scored three good goals in the later stages of the first half, Workington netted two more crackers to record their best ever win at Dunston.

Symington finally got the goal he deserved with another free-kick special, beating Staples all ends up with a trade mark twenty-five yarder, thirteen minutes from time.

And a good afternoon’s work was completed just before the end when Keelan Leslie bagged his first goal for the club with an unerring finish from well outside the box.

Three injuries to key personnel tarnished a pleasing afternoon’s work but Danny Grainger has a number of options in his squad, providing plenty of food for thought before Saturday. 

Dunston: Staples, Baxter, McDonald, Pearson M, Swailes, Galbraith, Carr, Chrisp, Pearson D, Robinson, Djalo.  Substitutes – Camarda, Walker, Elliott, Jensen, Lamb (all used).

Workington: Atkinson, Roxburgh, Bell, Wordsworth, Smith, Carroll, Symington, McCaragher, Reilly, Moore K, Tinnion.  Substitutes – Rigg, Hubbold, Allison, Leslie, Tait, Moore L and Hammell (all used).

Referee: Kieran Downey, Sunderland

Booking: Wordsworth, Workington

Attendance: 167