Recap

The Development Squad kicked off their fourth season in the Cumberland County League but made an inauspicious start in their home clash against Celtic’s second string.

Workington will play the Development team matches at St. Benedict’s School again this term but, on the opening day, it was the visitors who looked more at home and Reds couldn’t handle a well-disciplined Cleator Moor outfit or the gale-force wind.

Reds did start reasonably well but found Luke McKnight in good form between the posts for the visitors.

And when Celtic opened the scoring with a well taken Jamie Martin goal, it was just the start of Reds’ problems.

Defender Owen Birkett (inset) was red-carded soon after, for a lunging tackle, with the hosts down to ten men for almost an hour.

Quick thinking from Bradley Rooney doubled Celtic’s advantage soon after half time.  He spotted goalkeeper, Aaron Lister, off his line and sent a wind assisted free-kick from the half-way line over his head and into the net.

Luke Knowles came closest to bagging a consolation goal when, after a neat move, his shot rebounded off the post.

The ‘green & whites’ secured the points when more sloppy work in defence culminated in Glen Meagan scoring a gift-wrapped third ten minutes from time.

Joint-manager, Craig Johnston, gave an honest summary of the game, saying, “Overall, we were poor and, to a man, the players agreed with me.  We are a better team than what we showed and I will be looking for a reaction and an improved performance when we face Carlisle City in our next fixture.”

On a positive note, Reds handed County League debuts to three sixteen-year-olds.

Team: Aaron Lister, Hayden Percival, Owen Birkett, Owen Johnston, Callum Bell, Chad Grisdale, Evan Stephenson, Cain Pears, Harry Watson, Jack Dunstan, Tyler Harrell.  Substitutes – Alfie Scofield, Sam Christian, Milo Cooke, Luke Knowles, Jaden Scott.