Recap
Reds returned from their first ever visit to Hanley with three hard-earned points and were good value for a third successive away win.
Two more cracking goals from Dav Symington were added to his personal portfolio to turn the game in Workington’s favour, after Hanley opened the scoring in somewhat fortunate circumstances.
They had gone ahead via a Dan Wordsworth own-goal but created very few chances overall and Jim Atkinson enjoyed a trouble-free afternoon on his recall to the side.
He had been given the nod ahead of Danny Eccles who had performed well the previous week whilst Symington came back into the starting XI at the expense of Lewis Reilly.
Town, the NPL new boys, haven’t won on home soil so far this season and a competent display from the Cumbrians ensured that unusual statistic stretched to a fifth game. But, after a change of the managerial team, the hosts made the expected bright start.
Danny Glover did register the first shot on target but Atkinson comfortably gathered the ball and it is difficult to recall him having to make another save as such. He dealt with the routine crosses, through balls and back passes throughout with his back four in front of him doing much of the defensive work needed.
Hanley did go ahead in the eleventh minute when a great cross from the right would have been gathered by Atkinson but Wordsworth, possibly not hearing the call, moved to clear and only succeeded in slicing the ball rather un-gamely into his own net.
He almost atoned for the OG, going close at the other end soon after.
Slowly but surely, though, Reds played themselves back into the game and by half time were ahead and in control.
And it was Symington’s twenty-minute cameo that swung things in their favour.
Thunder-foot was simply unstoppable for that spell of the game and two twenty-five yarders – almost identical – put Reds in front.
He equalised in the twenty-ninth minute with the ferocity of the shot leaving Kieran Harrison helpless and, for an encore, slammed in what proved to be the winner three minutes before the interval.
In between, he almost scored another when the ball from his free-kick flashed past Harrison again but rebounded into play off the foot of his right-hand post.
Town did have the ball in the net soon after the restart but Glover’s joy was quickly nipped in the bud as play had already been stopped for an offside offence.
The hosts were forcing Reds deeper but the ever-dependable Wordsworth/Smith partnership, was in no mood for conceding. Hanley did win several second half corners but efforts on target eluded them.
Indeed, it was Reds who went closest to a second half goal with a fine, powerful header from Steven Rigg flipped over the bar by an acrobatic Harrison save.
Bobby Carroll, continuing his rehab with another half an hour on the pitch, also had a shot on target but not one that troubled the ‘keeper.
Birthday boy, Charlie Birch, certainly enjoyed his afternoon as he continues to impress in the number three shirt. He was supported by close family and friends on a ground where his grandfather played many games for Hanley in their formative years.
Overall, a good shift from Danny Grainger’s side but he, and assistant Terry Mitchell, insisted there was room for improvement.
Hanley Town: Harrison, Cotterill, Morris, Sanders, Stair, Shotton, Jones, Blake (Lawrie, 64), Glover, Twyford, Avery. Substitutes – Chapman, Walford, Dodds, Lawrie (not used).
Workington: Atkinson, Clarke, Birch, Wordsworth, Smith, Casson, Symington, Allison (Moran, 85), Rigg (Reilly, 76), Jerome (Carroll, 66), Tinnion. Substitutes – Leslie, Palmer (not used).
Referee: Mark Bates, Stalybridge
Bookings: Blake (Hanley Town), Jerome (Workington)
Attendance: 180
