MATCH REPORT: Avro FC 4-1 Workington AFC
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Reds remain consistently inconsistent, and produced another Jekyll and Hyde performance – encouragingly good in the first half but abjectly poor in the second.
And it prompted a frustrated response from Billy Barr who labelled the side as ‘a forty-five-minute team’ shortly after they had slumped to their heaviest defeat under his tenure.
The first-ever meeting between the clubs was refreshingly open with play switching from end-to-end throughout. Yet, whereas Workington lacked that killer instinct in the final third, the Oldham side were ruthless.
Avro have been scoring goals for fun in recent seasons and have certainly been a ‘good watch’ whilst progressing through the divisions. But Reds went toe-to-toe with them in the first half, but couldn’t maintain the tempo after the break against the Premier Division’s top scorers.
Workington kicked-off on the narrow 4G pitch and had carved out the game’s first opportunity after just thirty-eight seconds when Luke Hunter broke through but failed to keep his shot below crossbar height.
Avro’s first effort at goal, a couple of minutes later, came via Taylor Dyson’s free-kick which Alex Mitchell hoovered up without too much concern.
Back came cream-shirted Reds and Hunter’s stinging shot from twenty-five yards was saved, at the second attempt, by Jon Vilar Robinson.
Keelan Leslie then released Brennan Dickenson, the former Oldham Athletic player, but his superb hooked-volley was pushed away by Robinson.
To say Avro’s opening goal, in the fourteenth minute, was against the run of play might be stretching it a bit but it was a body blow to the Cumbrians, who had started well.
Darren Ehimamiegho crossed from the right and the diminutive Harry Salt deflected the ball past Alex Mitchell for the first goal and, we all suspected, it wouldn’t be the last!
Dickenson’s next effort just cleared the bar by inches but he did make it third time lucky when he headed Reds’ level in the twenty-third minute, via one of five first half corners they forced. Jake Allan sent in an inviting cross from the corner flag and Dickenson ghosted in to head home his first league goal for the club.
When play switched to the other end, Ryley Smith saw his shot saved by an alert Mitchell before Max Harrop was off target with an attempt from the edge of the area.
Reds finished the half strongly and Hunter saw another attempt saved by Robinson, with Allan again providing the assist.
Dickenson’s angled shot was kept out by the goalkeeper’s feet, Luke Ellis’ wayward shot cleared the bar and Matty Douglas’ header was comfortably saved by Robinson.
If Reds shaded the first half, Avro dominated the second and, by the finish, were worthy winners.
And it was a case of too much Salt proving unhealthy for the visitors as the tiny playmaker restored the hosts lead eight minutes after the restart, with Dyson’s cross not dealt with by the Workington defence.
One sensed there might not be a second comeback from Reds who were starting to look second best and mentally drained.
Harrop’s firm shot from distance was well held by Mitchell before Benito Vincenzo Lowe joined the party. His first attempt cleared the bar but two stunning strikes in three minutes condemned Workington to their third loss of the season.
Harry Showman broke clear down the right and his teasing cross was despatched instinctively by Love for his first, after seventy-one minutes, and a great shot on the turn, soon after, sealed an impressive win for the Premier Division new boys.
A flurry of half-chances came Reds’ way with Leslie and Brad Carroll narrowly missing the target, Hunter sending a shot into the night sky and a late Tom Stephenson effort kept out by Robinson.
And it almost ended with Avro netting a fifth of the evening when Showman had a clear run at goal but Mitchell quickly advanced off his line to block the shot.
Nevertheless, it was a comprehensive defeat and a night to forget for Reds’ on their maiden visit to the Vestacare Stadium.
Avro: Robinson, Ehimamiegho (Kershaw, 79), Owen, Morrow, Fitzpatrick, Harrop (Hickman, 64), Dyson (Davidson, 76), Atkinson, Lowe (Holland-Wilkinson, 80), Salt, Smith (Showman, 68).
Workington: Mitchell, Barnes, Leslie (Hopper, 75) Whitehall (Rigby, 75), Douglas, Dickinson, Allan (Stephenson, 72), Ellis (Carroll, 46), Dickenson (Palmer, 75), Casson, Hunter.
Referee: Joshua Thompson, Sheffield
Bookings: Harrop (Avro), Dickinson (Workington)
Attendance: 389
