Recap

An excellent follow-up result from Saturday’s opening win at Kidsgrove, Reds dominated from start to finish and three second half goals rubber-stamped an impressive performance.

Had it been a boxing bout, the referee might have stopped the contest at half time, such was Reds dominance, but City’s resilience was finally broken early in the second half.

Once in front, Reds turned the screw and the visitors never looked capable of grabbing a consolation goal.

It took a wonderful free-kick from Dav Symington two minutes after the restart to set the hosts on the path to victory.  Brad Carroll had been fouled just outside the area and with the left-footed Conor Tinnion and right-footed Symington hovering over the ball, Liverpool ‘keeper Theo Roberts might have been hoping for help from his four man wall.

But Symington’s sublime shot evaded the wall and flew into the top corner of the net with Roberts well and truly beaten.

The same two players had been involved in the last significant action of the first half but it was Roberts who came out on top on that occasion.  Symington had sent the ball goal-wards with a ferocious shot but Roberts dived to his right and palmed the ball to safety via the upright.

It had been one-way traffic towards Roberts’ goal in the first half but some wayward finishing meant it was still goalless at the break.

Carroll, twice, and Sam Smith shot wide with three early opportunities then Roberts dealt with two well struck efforts, which were on target, thwarting Symington and Carroll, again.

When Nic Evangelinos dragged another attempt wide and Symington was denied by the save of the match, Workington supporters might have feared the time honoured scenario of C o L opening the scoring with their first effort of note.

That didn’t happen, thankfully.

Instead we had three players grabbing their first goal of the season as Chris Willcock’s side romped to victory.

The Liverpool side play a good brand of football but they just weren’t allowed into their stride and Workington won every individual battle in defence, midfield and up front.

They doubled the lead via the penalty spot with the referee awarding a spot kick for what appeared a trivial matter, having earlier turned down appeals for a more robust challenge.

Evangelinos (inset) was given the opportunity from the spot and he converted his first league goal for the club, sending the ball in the opposite direction to Roberts’ dive after fifty five minutes.

Brad Hubbold’s sweetly struck volley sank into the goalkeeper’s midriff as Reds looked for a third goal and Reuben Jerome’s superb run towards goal was ended by a magnificent tackle by City skipper, Ryan Schofield.

But the third goal did come from a corner routine in the seventy-fifth minute.  Tinnion floated the ball towards the far post, Smith headed back across the face of goal and Dan Wordsworth nodded home from close range to seal a comprehensive win.

Even the mercurial Jack Hazelhurst couldn’t inspire City and his off target volley just before the end just about summed up their evening.

Former Workington hero, Jonny Wright, watched from the terraces and was suitably impressed.  “That was some performance – from start to finish,” he said.    

Sentiments echoed by manager Willcock, “Excellent, we’ll take 3-0, move on to Saturday and see what develops.”

Workington Atkinson, Clarke, Charlton, Wordsworth, Smith, Hubbold, Symington, Carroll (Casson, 58), Jerome (Bowman, 71), Tinnion, Evangelinos (Gooden, 77).  Substitutes – Allison, Eccles (not used).

City of Liverpool Roberts, Hughes, Hinnigan, Schofield, Isherwood, Rydel, Rigby (Johnston, 46) Aley (Mandjoba, 78), Bryant, Hazelhurst, Kirby (Devine, 78).  Substitutes – Sample, Brookfield (not used).

Referee Chris Joyce

Booking Mitchell Bryant (City of Liverpool)

Attendance 604