Preview

Inconsistent Reds were well below par on the vast pitch at Whitehaven with a poor overall performance resulting in their third league defeat.

They only started to cause Miners’ problems late in the day and, by then, they were three goals down.

A well worked consolation goal gave them hope but it was too little, too late.

“I think, all round, it was a poor performance which the lads, to their credit, owned up to after the game,” was Craig Johnston’s post-match verdict. 

Miners should have gone in front on the fifteen-minute mark when Lewis Park broke through but the normally reliable finisher dragged his shot wide of the upright.  But Reds didn’t heed the warning and, two minutes later, Park made no mistake with his second attempt to break the deadlock.

Six minutes after the restart, Park netted his second when Reds got themselves in a defensive tangle and Miners capitalised.

At that point, the hosts were well on top and they were unlucky not to add to what looked like an unassailable lead when Paul McNally saw two efforts hit the post and bar respectively.

Connor Woodend’s wonder strike from thirty-five yards will certainly be a ‘goal of the season’ contender for the Whitehaven outfit but, for the time being, secured the points in this Premier Division encounter.   

Reds regained some pride with a late rally, scoring a fine goal after seventy-five minutes.

Cain Pears’ superb pass found Luke Bewsher-Cannon (inset) and he calmly rolled the ball under the advancing ‘keeper for his first County League goal.  

Team: Brodie Richardson, Hayden Percival, Zak Walker, Owen Birkett, Brad Barwise, Evan Stephenson, Luke Knowles, Spencer Bland, Tyler Harrell, Cain Pears, Harry Watson.  Substitutes – Callum Bell, Alfie Schofield, Brad Keenan, Jaden Scott and Luke Bewsher-Cannon (all used).