MATCH REPORT: Clitheroe FC 0-1 Workington AFC

A well created, and well take taken, goal from Tom Stephenson just before the half time break ended a solid pre-season campaign with a win, albeit a hard fought one, against a competent Clitheroe outfit.

They did create plenty of chances in an entertaining game but took the one that proved to be decisive in the forty-second minute.

And 1-0 away wins are a tonic.  They rarely come easy and you have to battle through ninety minutes, compete with the home team, survive a few scares and leave nothing on the pitch.  Reds did all that, and more.

But, in what undoubtedly was the best yardstick of the five-match pre-season schedule, it was good to see the team emerge from a game which mirrored a NPL fixture.

Nevertheless, Billy Barr was honest enough to admit that there is still room for improvement and plenty to think about before the league opener at Gainsborough Trinity next week.

“Yes, there were plenty of plusses but, also, quite a few minuses and we won’t get away with too many of the latter against most of the Premier Division teams,” he said.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the first half and Alex Mitchell saved one of the few shots on target, gathering, a well hit attempt from Nathan Sandison.

At the other end, Simon Rigby got through and a teasing ball across the face of goal was diverted by home ‘keeper, Liam Isherwood.  Jack Dickinson then headed wide from a Keelan Leslie free-kick and Isaac Whitehall’s shot, from another set piece, missed the target.

But the Cumbrians did produce a moment of quality, after a patient build-up, towards the end of an even half.  They worked the ball from left to right and Ceiran Casson’s persistence paid off.

He barged past two defenders and laid the ball square to Tom Stephenson who cooly slotted his second goal of the summer from twelve yards.

Tom Stephenson

There was a lively start to the second half, firstly Luke Hunter broke through but his finish was wayward, and then Clitheroe almost equalised at the other end.  Mitchell made a spectacular save to palm Alhagi Touray’s goal-bound header over the bar.

Reds then squandered several opportunities which would have given them a bit of breathing space.

Isherwood gathered a firmly struck Stephenson shot, after Rigby’s sublime pass had created the opening, then we witnessed the game’s moment of controversy.

Whitehall went on a box-to-box slalom run, leaving five blue shirts in his wake. But having got past the last man he was hauled to the ground and his meandering run came to an abrupt halt.

We will never know if the brilliant run would have produced a Whitehall wonder goal but the trialist who committed the foul should have been punished.  Instead, the referee showed great leniency, took no action, and Whitehall missed the target with the subsequent free-kick.

Hunter’s shot was then parried by Isherwood and Ellis should have scored from the rebound but allowed the ‘keeper to recover.

Further chances were squandered which could have proved costly as Clitheroe finished strongly.   

Brad Ditch was denied by another stunning Mitchell save as Reds had to defend a series of late corners from the hosts.

Matches are won and lost in both boxes or, in this case, the same penalty area.  Stephenson got the all-important goal in the first half and then the outstanding Mitchell and Dickinson ensured Reds secured a clean sheet at the same end of the ground, late in the day.

Post match

Clitheroe: Isherwood, Windass, Walder, Shorrocks, Fernandez, Newton, Alston, Machell, Touray, Gilchrist, Sandison.  Substitutes – Jake Carroll, Jordan Carroll, Scarborough, Ditch, Harrison, Trialist A, Trialist B (all used).

Workington: Mitchell, Casson, Leslie, Whitehall (Barnes, 69), Douglas, Dickinson, Allan (Hopper, 66), Ellis, Hunter (Palmer, 73), Rigby (Thomson, 73), Stephenson.  Substitute – Randall (not used).

Referee: Joseph Hind, Preston

Attendance: 451