MATCH REPORT: Bury 1-2 Workington AFC
If motivation was needed to obtain a positive result from this first ever Northern Premier League encounter, it came after Bury hammered Reds in the FA Cup tie six weeks ago.
Billy Barr and his troops were hurting after that result and were keen to make amends second time around. They needed a lit bit of luck along the way, but emerged deserved winners by the end to record just a second victory at Gigg Lane – sixty years after their previous success!
And on an afternoon of spectacular goals, Workington may reflect on two moments in the game when luck went in their favour.
The first came just before Bury did score when a sublime curling shot from Rustam Stepans seemed destined for the net but the ball, somehow, defied the laws of physics and rebounded off the post to remain in play. And the second was on the hour mark when Bury were reduced to ten men after Oscar Threlkeld halted Tom Stephenson’s run towards goal and, as the last defender, was rightly red-carded.
But Barr, who admitted that this was the most satisfying result of the season, and his players deserve the plaudits for a brave performance over ninety minutes.
They knew Bury would have the ball for long periods but were aware that they, too, would have spells of possession and when they did, they were efficient and effective.
From a spectators’ point of view, the first half was mundane but keeping Bury quiet suited Reds, in contrast to the previous meeting when the hosts reached half time in front then ran riot in the second.
It was a more even contest in the second half on this occasion.
Having said that, Reds did get forward when they could and almost took the lead with two promising attacks.
Brennan Dickenson’s charge down the right flank created the first when his cross was met by Luke Hunter’s volley. Bury skipper, James Neild, bravely blocked the goal-bound shot but needed the physio’s help to get him back on his feet.
And Reds carved out another good opportunity when Zach Martin released Stephenson down the right and his teasing cross was a split second away from being converted.
Bury did come close towards the end of the half but the alert Alfie Scales kept out James Melhado’s original shot and Owen Robinson’s follow-up effort was blocked.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot and Tom Carr was inches away from connecting to Robinson’s cross shot before the latter headed over Neild’s assist from the right.
Stepans’ shot had ‘goal’ written all over it but, somehow, the ball rebounded into play, although the reprieve was short-lived.
Mo Touray made himself available to receive from a throw-in, cleverly rolled his marker and curled a superb right-footed shot beyond Scales for a spectacular opener in the fifty-fifth minute.
Surely that would be the route to victory for The Shakers.
Reds had other ideas, though, and their response was immediate and very positive.
Steven Rigg, a first half replacement for the injured Jake Allan, saw two efforts at goal charged down but Workington restored parity within four minutes of going behind.
And if Touray’s goal was special, then Simon Rigby’s equaliser was just as good. He received the ball in the inside left challenge and found the top corner of Mitchell Allen’s net with a precision finish.
More drama in Reds next attack with Stephenson out-pacing Threlkeld in a one-to-one race before the trip which ended the centre-half’s afternoon sooner than expected. Stephenson did try and keep his feet but ended up on the turf.
Bury tweaked things immediately and sacrificed Carr for the more defensively minded Louis Isherwood.
Dickenson took the subsequent free-kick but Allen gathered comfortably.
Stephenson broke through again and his square pass to Dickenson created another opening but, for once, Reds’ captain lifted the ball over the bar.
Workington were having a great spell and, just eleven minutes after going behind, got their noses in front. Hunter cut in from the left and fed the ball to Stephenson who was operating on the other flank.
The ball sat-up nicely for the outstanding winger and he despatched a looping volley into the net for an incredible winner, from the edge of the box.
The blond bombshell was having the time of his life and streetwise Bury couldn’t cope with him.
He then set up another chance for Dan Hopper who dragged his shot wide before wriggling between two defenders to cause more havoc.
Bury had been stunned by Reds’ fightback and were reduced to unfamiliar wastage of possession in the later stages, and nearly seven minutes of added time, as the Cumbrians pulled off a famous victory.
Bury: Allen, Melhado (Telford, 75), Sloane, Neild, Threlkeld, Carroll, Robinson, Graham (Glendon, 75), Touray (Pedro, 67), Carr (Isherwood, 62), Stepans. Substitute – Pye (not used).
Workington: Scales, Casson (Thomson, 90), Fairclough, Rigby, Whitehall, Martin, Stephenson (Jacobs, 90), Allan (Rigg, 30), Dickenson, Ellis (Hopper, 78), Hunter (Leslie, 84).
Referee: Adam Watson
Bookings: Neild, Sloane (Bury), Dickenson (Workington)
Red card: Threlkeld (Bury)
Attendance: 3,514
