Recap

The Reds Development Squad represented the club in the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup, a match switched to Borough Park after Dearham had originally been drawn at home.

And credit to both sides who attempted to get the ball down and play in conditions which were far from ideal.

Having said that, it was the favourites who ran out comfortable winners in this Second Round tie, scoring three goals in the first half and two later in the game, progressing with a degree of comfort. 

Yet, it might have been so different had Dearham taken the lead with the game’s first opportunity.  They had defended a first minute corner and countered quickly but player-manager, Jack Brown, couldn’t force the ball past Aaron Lister who saved well to prevent a shock opening goal.

And by the time the village side had created another chance as clear-cut as that, they were three goals in arrears.

The first goal came from the penalty spot after sixteen minutes.  Taylor Manchester felled Luke Knowles in the area and Mr. Reliable, Cain Pears, nonchalantly found the net with Ben Brown helpless.

Five minutes later, Workington’s attack down the left saw Tyler Harrell, cut inside from the flank before he sent a firm low shot past the ‘keeper for a well taken second.

The well supported visitors had barely recovered from conceding the second when Reds struck again.  Pears collected the ball in acres of space and a good first touch set-up the opportunity before he arrowed a superb shot into the far corner of the net.

Mr Brown’s boys could have folded at that point but they didn’t and started to cause the hosts a problem or two.  The fact that Reds had to substitute both central defenders, skipper Evan Stephenson and Zach Martin, before half time did unsettle them momentarily but they regrouped to regain control.

Eight minutes after the restart, Pears completed his second hat-trick of the season after a flowing passing move broke Dearham’s resistance and his low shot gave Reds a four-goal cushion.

Danny Manchester’s superb shot from the edge of the area was worthy of a consolation goal but Lister dived to his right and pulled off the save of the match to maintain his clean sheet.

Danny Manchester and Jack Brown then combined well and a quick one-two created a decent opening for the former but he mishit the ball and dragged it wide.

With a quarter of an hour to go, Reds completed a good night’s work when Sam Christian became one of Reds youngest ever scorers in the Cumberland Cup, confidently despatching the ball into the net after Ben Brown could only parry the original shot.

Christian was one of four sixteen-year-olds in a Workington shirt at the finish as the holders cantered through to Round Three. 

Workington: Lister, Percival, Bell, Stephenson (Johnston, 30), Martin (Bland, 42), Grisdale, Benson-Lester, Davidson, Harrell (Christian, 54), Pears, Knowles.  Substitutes – Schofield, Dunstan (not used).

Dearham United: Ben Brown, Matthew Heaney, Alfie Green, Taylor Manchester, Leo Howland, Kyle Adlard, Daniel Little, Danny Manchester, Jack Brown, Brandon Brown, Matthew Oglanby.  Substitutes – Blake Miller, Dylan Robinson, Tom Glover, Jack Basnett, Kyah Frazer.

Referee: Scott Henry, Carlisle

Bookings: Percival (Workington), Manchester T, Oglanby (Dearham United)

Attendance: 257