Recap

NPL West NPL West 22/23

Borough ParkNew Bridge Road, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2DT

Workington AFC
Borough Park, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2DT
Macclesfield FC
Leasing.com Stadium London Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7SP
0 - 1
Final Score
Alex Curran - 1 (18')
Game Statistics
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
0 Corner Kick 0
0 Saves 0
0 Shots on Goal 0
0 Shots 0
0%
Pass Accuracy
0%
Shot Accuracy
OFF
0
F
0
SH
0
0%
Pass Accuracy
0%
Shot Accuracy
0
OFF
0
F
0
SH
Game Timeline
KO
KO
Alex Curran
18'
Kane Drummond
46'
Bobby Carroll
55'
Ntumba Massanka
67'
Lewis Reilly
71'
Lewis Fensome
73'
Dan Wordsworth
80'
Dan Cowan
80'
Charlie Birch
89'
Kane Drummond
89'
Sam Smith
90'
Steven Rigg
90'
FT

Recap

Borough Park fell silent prior to kick-off as home fans paid tribute to former physiotherapist, Jackie Cunningham, and life-long supporters Derrick Routledge, Len Brown, Dave Bowden (Sale), Ken Reed and Ian Ferguson all of whom passed away recently.

Thereafter, a boisterous crowd generated a great atmosphere as two of the West Division’s top three slugged it out in a gunfight at Borough Park. 

As often is the case when two heavyweights meet, the sides effectively cancelled each other out and clear-cut chances were few and far between.  We saw a different Macclesfield to the free-scoring side that has swept all before them this season, scoring over seventy league goals in the process.

They were rugged, resilient and determined to register a clean sheet yet confident that, if a chance came their way, they would take it.

That opportunity came in the eighteenth minute when their effective ‘high-press’ intercepted a stray pass with Alex Curran the beneficiary.  He gathered the ball, advanced a few yards before shooting across Jim Atkinson for that crucial first (and only) goal.

They had squandered an easier opportunity earlier when Daniel Sweeney shot wide after getting through a little too easily.

But Reds gave it a right good go and the play was efficient until the last third.  They often got behind Macc’s defensive line but the crosses were dealt with by Laurent Mendy & Co or overhit.

Charlie Birch found himself in a decent shooting position soon after the opener but a rash finish left him still waiting for his first goal in Workington colours.

David Symington had a couple of goal-bound efforts blocked but the one that did register on target was gathered by the Barrovian, Wyll Stanway, at the second attempt.

There were calls for a penalty when Stanway and Reuben Jerome collided inside the area but the referee decided it was nothing sinister.

Atkinson was forced into action early in the second half when Kane Drummond sent a shot in his direction but, generally, neither goalkeeper was overworked with both back fours nullifying opposition attacks.

It had been a hard, competitive contest, yet fair, but became rather feisty in the later stages.

Birch and Drummond got involved in a bit of afters following the latter’s challenge on Kai Nugent and both collected a yellow card – others escaped punishment.

And then a mistimed Sam Smith tackle was punished with a red card, which seemed harsh from my vantage point but the referee acted swiftly on what he saw.    

It obviously meant a lot to the Macclesfield contingent who celebrated enthusiastically with their fans at the final whistle as they completed a league double over a gallant Workington.

Reds’ sixth defeat effectively rules them out of what had become an unlikely title bid with a twelve-point gap now separating them and the Silkmen.

Workington: Atkinson, McCaragher, Birch (Rigg, 90), Wordsworth, Smith, Casson (Reilly, 69) Symington, Farmer (Carroll, 55) Jerome, Nugent, Tinnion.  Substitutes – Leslie, Clarke (not used).

Macclesfield: Stanway, Pemberton, Lee, Fensome, Mendy, Murphy, Kengni (Cowan, 80), Danns, Sweeney (Massanka, 67), Curran, Fage (Drummond, 46).  Substitutes – Maynard, Thorpe (not used).

Referee: Thomas Wilson

Bookings: Wordsworth, Birch (Workington), Fensome, Drummond (Macclesfield)

Red card: Smith (Workington)

Attendance: 1,670

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Details

Date Time League Season Full Time
25/02/2023 15:00 NPL West NPL West 22/23 90'

Ground

Borough Park

New Bridge Road, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2DT

Results

Club1st Half2nd HalfGoals
Workington000
Macclesfield101

Workington

1Jim Atkinson Goalkeeper
2Greg McCaragher Midfielder
3Charlie Birch 16 Defender 89'
4Dan Wordsworth Defender 80'
5Sam Smith Defender 90'
6Ceiran Casson 17 Midfielder
7Dav Symington Midfielder
8Lewis Farmer 15 Midfielder
9Reuben Jerome Forward
10Kai Nugent Midfielder
11Conor Tinnion Midfielder
12Keelan Leslie Midfielder
14Matty Clarke Defender
15Bobby Carroll 8 Midfielder
16Steven Rigg 3 Forward
17Lewis Reilly 6 Forward

Macclesfield

1Wyll Stanway Goalkeeper
2Tre Pemberton Forward
3Brandon Lee Defender
4Lewis Fensome Defender 73'
5Laurent Mendy Midfielder
6Luke Murphy Midfielder
7Neil Kengni 12 Forward
8Neil Danns Midfielder
9Dan Sweeney 15 Forward
10Alex Curran Midfielder 18'
11Dylan Fage 17 Midfielder
12Dan Cowan 7 Defender
14Nicky Maynard Forward
15Ntumba Massanka 9 Forward
16Tom Thorpe Defender
17Kane Drummond 11 Forward 89'
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