ON THIS DAY: 19 February – First win against Belper & an Aussie debut goal
Workington supporters have suffered more than their fair share of disappointments on the 19th February in former years and Borough Park hasn’t always been our ‘happy place’…….
2019 Witton Albion (home) 0-2 Albion maintained their excellent record in this particular NPL fixture and emerged comfortable winners with goals in the final twenty minutes. Reds were poor throughout and Dan Wordsworth’s dismissal compounded what already was a frustrating evening.
2013 Chester (home) 1-1 We were also reduced to ten men when runaway leaders Chester came to town for a Blue Square Bet North fixture. Lee Andrews was sent off after just five minutes for (apparently) denying a goal scoring opportunity. But Reds’ response was superb and, with the backing of a home crowd who felt the dismissal was extremely harsh, pushed Neil Young’s side all the way.
Even when Marc Williams headed Chester in front, Reds came storming back and Gari Rowntree went on a forty yard run which culminated in a stunning angled shot from twenty five yards leaving the ‘keeper clutching at thin air.
2011 Boston United (home) 3-5 This was, to say the least, a topsy-turvy ninety minutes of football which, ultimately, ended in favour of our friends from Lincolnshire.
They had established a two goal lead but Reds responded and were level at half time thanks to goals from Nick Rogan and Anthony Wright. A Gareth Arnison goal soon after the restart put us ahead for the first time but we then imploded, conceded three goals and lost the match.
Supporters had just witnessed four goals in each half but the majority left the ground very angry at Reds’ late collapse!
2005 Guiseley (home) 1-2 There was a touch of the unusual about this particular day with Guiseley’s first team and Reserves travelling to West Cumbria together on the same coach. The respective first teams met in a Unibond League fixture at Borough Park whilst the two ‘second strings’ played a Lancashire League fixture at Southfield School.
Although Matt Henney netted a first half equaliser for the seniors it was in vain as Guiseley eventually emerged deserved winners.
It was a similar story on the other side of town, Andrew Hurley (junior) levelled matters for the Reserves but they too eventually lost by the odd goal in three!
2002 Harrogate Town (home) 1-2 Town arrived as Unibond League First Division leaders and consolidated top spot with a ninth win in a row. They scored in each half to secure the points but, the goals apart, we gave them a decent game over the ninety minutes.
Losing a player to an eye injury would be consider unusually but Darren Wilson and Damian Maw both had to be substituted for that very reason – strange but true!
2000 Belper Town (away) 2-1 Darren Wilson certainly enjoyed a better afternoon two years earlier, scoring a couple of superb goals just before the interval to help register Workington’s first ever victory against the Derbyshire outfit.
Belper had scored first but Wilson headed a well taken equaliser then rounded the ‘keeper and guided home the winner on the stroke of half time.
1994 Ashton United (home) 1-2 Goalkeeper Lee Copeland was probably unaware he was making his 150th appearance for Reds on this day but that wouldn’t lessen the disappointment of being sent off for the first time in his career.
He was replaced in goal by the versatile Paul Doolan but, even allowing for the unusual goalkeeping situation, Reds were second best and the visitors just about deserved the points. Paddy Atkinson’s goal was merely a consolation.
1983 Buxton (home) 1-1 Reds had won convincingly in the first meeting, away, but found Buxton more stubborn opponents in the return at Borough Park. Graham Gill had been amongst the goals in Derbyshire and made sure of the point by finding the target again.
1977 Hartlepool (away) 0-2 We included two former ‘Pools’ players, Malcolm Dawes and Mally Moore, in our starting XI whilst the hosts named two future Reds, Barry Endean and Mally Poskett, in their team.
And Mr Endean scored the opening goal against us as we suffered our eleventh and final defeat at the Victoria Ground. Hartlepool’s second was an unfortunate own-goal conceded by Ian Johnston.
1972 Stockport County (home) 1-1 Tommy Spratt was in his second spell at Borough Park and his next move would take him to…….Stockport County! Tommy scored our goal and would finish the campaign as top scorer with 11 goals.
1966 Southend United (home) 3-1 Did you hear the one about the Englishman, Scotsman and Australian? It involved John Lumsden, Peter Foley and Max Tolson all scoring for Reds the last time we won a home game at Borough Park on this day.
It was Max’s Football League debut having moved from ‘down under’ to test his prowess in the English game.
1955 Bradford City (home) 1-1 Kenny Rose’s first team career was brief during his time at Borough Park – six appearances and two goals. His first Football League goal was the one which secured a draw against City. He got his opportunity after scoring freely for the Reserves – 17 for them in the North Regional League that season.
