ON THIS DAY: 16 February – 200th appearances & Johnno hat-trick
Reds have been consistently inconsistent on the 16th February over previous years winning five, drawing five and losing five of the league matches played…….
2019 Basford United (home) 0-3 This was the start of a disastrous nine match losing streak at Borough Park, an unwanted club record. We matched the Nottingham side in all aspects of play – except the one that matters – as they duly completed a league double at our expense.
2013 Altrincham (home) 2-1 A tonic of a performance which completed an unlikely league double over fourth placed Alty. It was a milestone occasion for Gari Rowntree and Jonny Wright who both made their 200th start for Reds.
And it was two well taken goals from Jonny, including an 88th minute winner, which secured the points.
2010 Alfreton Town (away) 0-2 With Reds due to face Stevenage in an FA Trophy tie in a few days, this midweek trip to Alfreton was all about surviving any injury scares. The hosts won easily, thanks to a couple of second half goals, and the only noteworthy line was Gari Rowntree’s first ever dismissal after picking up two yellow cards.
2008 Redditch United (away) 0-2 It just wasn’t Reds’ day and two second half goals, including a dubious penalty, secured victory for the hosts. Our luck was out with efforts from Tony Hopper and Jonny Wright rebounding into play off the woodwork.
2005 Spennymoor United (away) 5-1 This match was refereed by a teenage Michael Oliver, who has done rather well for himself since.
A fantastic all round team performance increased our lead at the top of the Unibond League Premier Division to twelve points in what was a great night for Craig Johnston. He scored his first league hat-trick for Reds (a precise lob, a three-times taken penalty, and a good low shot from the edge of the box). Gary Cohen and Mark Eccles also found the target as Reds completed a ’10-1’ aggregate double over the hosts.
1987 Horwich RMI (away) 1-1 Then known as the Multipart League, with just the one division, the two bottom clubs served up an entertaining contest. Horwich looked to be heading for a win but Carl Burdon netted a deserved equaliser for Reds four minutes before the end.
1985 Goole Town (away) 4-1 A week after losing against the same opponents in a League Cup tie, and at the same venue, Reds returned to East Yorkshire and recorded an emphatic league win. It was all square at the interval, Graham Gill on target for Reds, but we dominated the second period with John Smith, Neil Bramhall and Jim Pearson all netting in a best-ever win at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds.
1982 Netherfield (away) 2-1 John Reach and Neil McDonald scored first half goals in a hard fought win at Parkside Road with a league double over our South Cumbrian neighbours completed inside a fortnight.
1980 Marine (home) 1-3 Skipper Reach also scored two years earlier with his goal giving Reds a half time advantage. But Marine recovered, took control and cruised to a comfortable victory in what was their first visit to West Cumbria.
1977 Aldershot (home) 1-1 Aldershot, including former Reds player, Dave Howitt, in their line-up, were ahead at the break but a spirited second half from Reds salvaged a point. Eamon Kavanagh bagged the equaliser via a sweetly struck penalty.
1973 Doncaster Rovers (away) 1-1 Rovers and Reds were on course for a mid-table finish so a draw was the predictable outcome in this Fourth Division encounter at the old Belle Vue stadium. Dave Helliwell was the Reds marksman that day.
1971 Exeter City (away) 1-0 This was the first of just two successes at the other St. James’ Park and completed our only league double over the Grecians. Johnny Martin scored the only goal of the match whilst John Burridge kept the final clean sheet of his Workington career.
1963 Gillingham (away) 2-2 Another goalkeeper in the limelight on this day was Ian Ower who made his Reds’ debut having joined the club from St. Johnstone. It was a case of one Glaswegian replacing another with Ian taking over the green jersey from Grimsby Town bound, Charlie Wright.
It was always good to get something from the long trip to Kent and goals from Arnold Timmins and Dave Carr helped us to a welcome point.
1957 Oldham Athletic (home) 0-0 Reds had scored plenty of goals on home soil (they managed sixty in total) but drew a blank on this occasion. Reds would finish the campaign in 4th position, the ‘Latics 19th.
1952 Crewe Alexandra (away) 0-2 The team was in a poor run of form and this reverse at Gresty Road was the sixth of nine consecutive defeats!
