Recap

Workington’s FA Youth Cup adventure is over for another season although they leave the competition with their pride intact, yet knowing they could have done better.

In the two away games at Morpeth and against York, at Garforth Town’s ground, the young Reds acquitted themselves well.  Yes, they looked naïve and very nervous at times but most of this group will be eligible to play next season and they will benefit from the experience.

That experience is invaluable – travelling on a coach together and bonding as team mates, playing in proper stadiums under floodlights, meeting a better standard of opponent and generally coming to grips with factors outside their comfort zone.

Some will prosper in such an environment others will fall by the wayside as they reach the crossroads of their fledgling careers.  They have to make the transition from youth football to senior level very quickly and the harsh reality is that some will but the majority won’t.

York were expected to win this Second Round Qualifying tie at a canter, and they did progress without too much concern, but Reds grew into the game during a second half battered by a gale force wind which didn’t help either side.

Reds’ Luke Bewsher-Canon did register the game’s first shot on target but not enough to worry City goalkeeper, Harry Carr.

York then took control of the game and near identical goals after fifteen and thirty-five minutes put them comfortably ahead by half time.  Alex Glynn’s scored both with close range finishes following low crosses from the left flank.

City thought they had netted a third but it was rightly disallowed after the scorer had strayed offside.

Lewis Moore had been quiet, by his standards, in the first half but became the hub of an improved second half showing.  His two shots at goal were off target but Reds were seeing more of the ball and using it better than they had previously.

Brad Keenan saw one firmly struck shot saved by Carr, as Reds sought a consolation goal, but it was York who netted the third of the evening when Harry Burland took advantage of some passive defending to drive past Lucas Walker after seventy-three minutes.

The Cumbrians battled away to the end knowing things might have been different had they started the game the way finished it.  Overall, though, a good effort from those involved.

York City: Carr, Tate, Crooks, Marshall, Shirley, Gibson-Booth, Glynn (Lumsden, 60), Dawson, Hernandez (Edgnene, 68), Payne (Wilson, 66), Burland.  Substitutes – Djikingue, Hope, Grumley and Mortimer (not used).

Workington: Mansur (Walker, 46), Cooke, Bell, Johnston, Martin, Keenan, Moore, Bland (Carini, 60), Bewsher-Canon (White, 60), Christian, Schofield.

Referee: Mark Findlay    

Attendance: 102