Recap

Workington retained the Cumberland Cup after a narrow, albeit deserved, victory over old rivals, Carlisle United in what was the eleventh ‘derby’ final.

And the bragging rights remain in the west of the county following Reds’ eighth triumph over the Blues in the Cumberland FA’s showpiece game.

Two makeshift sides took to the field before a four-figure crowd which included several members of the Piatak family, United’s American owners.

United quickly settled and Jake Allan, one of four Blues starters, Josh O’Brien, Sam Hetherington and Aran Fitzpatrick the others, to have played for Workington on loan this term tested Danny Eccles with the first shot of note.

Allan had a second attempt which cleared the Town End shelter before Reds made inroads towards Tomas Holy’s goal.  However, Conor Tinnion’s looping header was easily caught by the towering Czech ‘keeper.

Sam Hetherington thought he had opened the scoring for United but a crisp low shot was matched by a fine diving save from Eccles.

We came even closer to a goal at the other end following great skill from Scott Allison.  He juggled the ball in the air before crashing a left-foot volley past Holy only for the ball to strike the ’keeper’s left-hand post and rebound to safety.

United were enjoying plenty of possession and won the corner count comfortably but they lacked that cutting edge in the final third.  Hetherington had another shot on target but Eccles dealt with it without too much fuss.

Ex. Blues frontman, Steven Rigg, was next to try his luck for Reds but his goal-bound shot on the turn was blocked by O’Brien.

Then, cometh the hour, cometh the man.  Scott Allison broke the deadlock in the sixtieth minute with a goal he has been waiting patiently for.  His poacher’s finish from close range, after good work from David Symington on the right, not only won the cup for Workington but created a bit of club history too.

It was his 156th strike in Workington colours making him the second highest scorer in the club’s history, with just the legendary Billy Charlton (1930s era) having netted more.

Allison rolled back the years with an influential shift from his aching body.

And if Allison was one of the better senior players on view, then seventeen and eighteen-year-olds, Sam Christian and Zak Walker respectively, were two of the teenagers to impress.  They will certainly remember their involvement with the Reds’ seniors this week.  

And it was good to see another youngster on the field before the end with Carlisle’s Dan Hopper able to experience the occasion for the last few minutes.  His late father, Tony, captained Workington’s winning side at Brunton Park in the 2009 final. 

United kept searching for that elusive equaliser but Reds’ rookie defence held firm to register a fifth clean-sheet in this season’s competition.

Cumberland FA chairman, Adam Pattison, presented the cup to skipper, Dav Symington, who lifted the trophy before the champagne celebrations began. 

Workington: Eccles, McCaragher, Walker, Howarth, Smith, Casson, Symington, Christian (Martin, 76), Rigg, Allison, Tinnion (Hubbold, 65).  Substitutes – Bell, Schofield, Atkinson (not used).

Carlisle United: Holy, Harris, Ellis (Murray, 15), Fitzpatrick, Emmanuel, O’Brien, Park (O’Donoghue, 65), Gibson, Dudik (Hopper, 86), Allan, Hetherington.  Substitutes – Fleming, Randall (not used).

Referee: Scott Henry, Carlisle

Booking: Casson (Workington)

Attendance: 1,148

Photo credit: Gary McKeating (@40/20pix)