Recap

Not the result hoped for at the start of a testing week with two games against higher-ranked opposition scheduled still to come.

Without seven key members of an already threadbare senior squad, manager Danny Grainger hid his frustration well after the Scottish fourth tier outfit won easily at Borough Park for the second successive summer.

And, whilst opposite number, Stevie Farrell, was delighted with the goals that secured their first pre-season win, the Reds boss was left somewhat perturbed by a second half collapse.

With both his recognised goalkeepers, Jim Atkinson (holiday) and Danny Eccles (injured) top of the unavailable list, Reds had to borrow Carlisle United stopper, Gabriel Breeze.  Twelve months ago, the nineteen-year-old ‘keeper made a cameo appearance for United at Borough Park but, on this occasion, it was a bit more than that with a string of fine saves keeping Reds in contention during a first half which, at least, was competitive, unlike the second.  

He prevented the Sons establishing a healthy lead with the saves to frustrate Finlay Gray and Ross MacLean particularly impressive.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, though, and the more experienced Brett Long had to work hard for his ‘clean sheet’ too.

He twice thwarted Dav Symington with important stops and then made an even better save to palm away an Aidy Roxburgh header.

It was a decent, even contest for forty minutes but two goals before the interval changed the complexion of the encounter. 

MacLean powered home a header in the forty-first minute via Carlo Pignatiello’s perfect cross with Ryan Blair’s sublime free-kick doubling the advantage in stoppage time.

The contest was effectively over at the point with Dumbarton’s changes not disrupting their rhythm and control whilst Reds’ posse of youngsters and trialists were unable to get a foothold in the game.

Obua Mugalula came closest to bagging a consolation goal but his decent strike was comfortably saved by Long who, earlier, held a shot from one of the trialists.

Naïve defending cost Workington a third goal nine minutes from the end, with Declan Byrne heading home from a few yards out, and then Luca Vata netted his first Sons goal just before the final whistle as the visitors strolled to victory.  

Workington: Breeze, Roxburgh (Martin), Trialist (Leslie), Wordsworth (Trialist), Wallbank, Casson (Trialist), Symington (Lester), Carroll (Moore), Allison (Trialist), McCaragher (Trialist), Trialist (Mugalula).

Dumbarton: Long, Pignatiello, Crighton (Young), Durnan, Wylde (Lynas), Blair (Malcolm), Hilton (Wilson), Gray (Wallace R), MacLean (Vata), Ruth (Byrne), Orsi (Wallace T).  Substitute – Broun (not used).

Referee: John Mulligan, Carlisle

Attendance: 338