Recap

There was an encouraging start from the Development Squad who came from behind to draw their first pre-season outing at Egremont.

Windscale’s Matt Pilkington opened the scoring with a close range header just before half time with Carl Lightfoot levelling matters ten minutes after the restart.

On a baking hot afternoon, the young Reds returned to action just two months after wrapping up last season, continuing where they had left off by attempting to play fast, free-flowing football.

Ciaran Booty, Thomas Houghton and Lightfoot all had chances in the opening period without troubling the Windscale ‘keeper who was then relieved to see a Dan Whitehead free-kick rebound off the goal frame.

But it was the hosts who went in front as they ended the half on a positive.  The ball was headed across the face of goal and Pilkington converted at the far post with Reds guilty of poor defending from the earlier cross.

A well fashioned equaliser got Reds back on terms with Houghton and Booty combining to release the lively Lightfoot (pictured).  He advanced on goal, weaved his way past the last defender before guiding the ball beyond the ‘keeper.

Workington pushed for the winner but, as both teams wilted in the heat, Windscale remained resilient and had chances themselves on the counter.

Ruben Butterworth had a solid debut at the back whilst Jack Burns covered every blade of grass of the Falcon Ground pitch and, overall, it was an excellent work-out for both sides.