On this day – 26 November
A look through the archives to see what was happening to Reds on the 26th November in years gone by………….
Every so often there will be a performance that leaves supporters on the brink of despair, a day where nothing goes right and, inevitably, a heavy defeat is the outcome.
Reds suffered ‘one of those days’ four years ago at Stourbridge (pictured above) where the match was well and truly over long before half time.
We didn’t even have time to park the bus as Stourbridge’s ‘blitzkrieg’ attack rattled in five goals inside the opening twenty seven minutes. Five nil down with only a third of the game gone, supporters dreaded the thought of losing 7-0, 8-0 or even 9-0.
Thankfully, though, it didn’t get any worse and Stourbridge couldn’t add to their impressive tally in the final hour of the game.
Old adversary, Luke Benbow, started and finished the scoring with the opener coming after five minutes via the penalty spot.
It hasn’t always been doom and gloom on this day with Reds enjoying some notable victories of their own.
In 1988, we met Winsford United at Borough Park in what was Mick Heaton’s first game as manager. And what a start for the new boss with Reds strolling to a 6-1 win.
Peter Harbach certainly enjoyed the afternoon, becoming the first Reds player in nearly six years to score a hat-trick. He was joined on the score sheet by Gary Messenger, Mark Arrowsmith and Graeme Nicholson.
Winsford were still in contention at half time but they had two players sent off and looked a sorry outfit by the finish.
Workington avoided the proverbial ‘banana skin’ in an FA Cup First Round tie at South Shields in 1966, emerging comfortable 4-1 winners against the North Regional League outfit.
Billy Griffin converted a penalty, with Brian Tinnion and Ken Oliver (2) sharing the goals for Reds.
Cup fever was certainly evident on Tyneside with a 10,000 crowd turning out at the Simonside Hall ground.
Three years earlier, in 1963, we pulled off another giant killing act in the Football League Cup with Fourth Division Reds recording a 2-1 success over Third Division Colchester United.
Ken Furphy and Mike Commons scored our goals that night with victory earning us a trip to West Ham United in the 5th Round.
