MATCH REPORT: Bury FC 1-5 Workington AFC
Workington played their part in what had the makings of a cracking cup-tie in an eventful first half, only to lose their focus in the second and suffer more FA Cup agony against a rampant Bury.
The clubs have now met four times in the competition and The Shakers have won the lot, this Second Qualifying Round tie as convincing as any of the previous three.
Yet injury-stricken Workington had free-scoring Bury wobbling for a spell in the early stages and were in front for twenty-one minutes. But once the hosts had restored parity and reached the interval ahead, the outcome was inevitable and, from a Workington perspective, it became a damage limitation exercise long before the end.
When George Glendon headed an early opportunity over the bar and Alex Mitchell gathered a low Mo Touray shot it looked as though the hosts meant business. And after a visibly destressed Matty Douglas left the field with a dislocated elbow before the teams found any kind of rhythm, it looked ominous for the Cumbrians.
Yet, somehow, they got their noses in front after seventeen minutes and dreams of a rare cup shock were brewing.
Jake Allan delivered Workington's first comer and Joe Grayson appeared unmarked at the far post, deflecting the ball into the net via his knee. His first goal for the club but his elation soon disappeared as he too was substituted early in proceedings.
Allan then had a shot saved by Mitch Allen with the Bury 'keeper then dealing with a firmly struck Brenna Dickenson effort.
Yet whilst Reds could have done better with their chances, Bury were also guilty of being wasteful in front of goal. The feeling, though, was the hosts would continue to create whilst Reds would rue their squandered opportunities.
Rustam Stepans rolled his first attempt wide of the far post but he, and Kai Evans, saw Alex Mitchell make important saves to protect what was beginning to look a fragile lead.
And it was Evans who equalised in the thirty-eighth minute when he swiftly got beyond Casson and sent the ball past Mitchell.
Allan and Dickenson both failed to land a shot on target from decent openings and a Luke Hunter header lacked the power to trouble Allen.
Those misses would prove costly as Bury were awarded a penalty in first half stoppage time.
One again it was Evans who got the better of Casson who fouled the in-form frontman.
The referee was faced with the not too difficult decision of awarding the penalty and Evans confidently converted.
If that goal wasn't the turning point of the game, then Hunter's missed chance at the start of the second half certainly was. He broke through on goal but Allen kept out the ball with his legs and Workington's slim chances of finding a way back into the game evaporated.
From thereon it was constant Bury pressure and Reds weren't helping their cause by repeatedly losing possession and giving the ball away cheaply. That would be considered unwise against moderate opposition and even more so when facing potent Bury.
It was all over bar the shouting on the hour mark when Touray finished of a swift flowing move with a sublime curling finish and, for an encore, he scored a similar goal three minutes later with Reds' back line almost inviting the striker to score.
Bury were now rampant, and Reds ragged and it was no surprise when the hosts bagged their fifth of the game, seven minutes before the end.
It was more poor defending from the visitors which allowed Stepans to get the goal he probably deserved -- Bury's twenty-fourth on home soil in four matches!
A chastening afternoon on the field, two more players added to the injury list and the crass behaviour of some so-called Workington supporters wasn't meant to be in the script.
A day which promised so much and delivered so little.
Bury: Allen, Neild, Pye (Stepans, 23), Bobby Carroll (Jackson, 84), Threlkeld,
Isherwood, Robinson (Navarro, 68), Graham, Touray, Glendon (Dudley, 63), Evans
(Melhado, 69). Substitutes -- Poytrees, Aydogan (not used).
Workington: Mitchell, Casson, Grayson (Leslie, 25), Whitehall, Douglas (Allan, 11),
Barnes, Stephenson (Hopper, 65), Brad Carroll (Ellis, 65), Dickenson (Jacobs, 79),
Rigby, Hunter. Substitutes - Eccles, Thomson (not used).
Referee: Ben Cotton, Manchester
Bookings: Neild (Bury), Casson, Leslie, Rigby (Workington)
Attendance: 2,532
