MATCH REPORT: Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 Workington AFC
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- 2 min read
Without looking as though they could actually win this game, Reds were in contention for well over an hour before falling to a couple of late goals manager Billy Barr described as ’gift-wrapped’.
“We can’t keep giving the ball away like we did and expect to take something from the game, and they duly punished us with both goals,” declared a clearly disappointed Barr.
He was referring to Ashton Offler’s seventy-third minute header and Fraser Preston’s clincher six minutes later, the culmination of defensive sloppiness on Workington’s part.
Trinity, by the finish, were comfortable winners but it might have been more emphatic had it not been for Alex Mitchell who was one of the few whose reputation remained intact.
In heatwave conditions he kept his cool, when others looked well below par, making three outstanding saves to keep his side in contention.
Reds lacked that bit of finesse in the final third and attacks were few and far between and somewhat fragmented.
Luke Hunter had one shot blocked in the first half by Harrison Beeden and then the former sent over a teasing cross which Harvey Sutcliffe almost deflected into his own net. A Matty Douglas header was on target but certainly didn’t trouble David Robson whilst, late in the day, Kai Nugent’s shot and a Josh Palmer’s header were wide of the target.
Mitchell’s flying save, to palm away Preston’s free kick, was one of the few highlights of a scrappy first forty-five and a second half reflex stop to deny Offler drew generous applause from the sun-drenched crowd.
But even Mitchell had no answer to the two goals that clinched an opening day win for Russ Wilcox’s Trinity.
Theo Williams’ wonderful cross from the right was inch-perfect for substitute Offler, who headed in superbly at the far post.
And Williams again caused damage from out wide with Preston doubling Gainsborough’s lead, when he reacted first in a crowded area to drive the ball firmly past Mitchell.
A disappointing afternoon overall for the Cumbrians but a proud moment for seventeen years old, Ted Thomson, who made his NPL debut as a late substitute.
Gainsborough Trinity: Robson, Sutcliffe, Jackson, Hornshaw (Johnson, 90), Leckie, Beeden, Butroid (McLoughlin, 90), Helliwell, Williams (Blythe, 89), Clarke (Offler, 70), Fraser (Whitehouse, 85).
Workington: Mitchell, Casson (Thomson, 90), Leslie, Whitehall, Douglas, Dickinson, Stephenson (Barnes, 77), Ellis (Rigby, 79), Hunter, Nugent (Palmer, 85), Allan (Hopper, 70).
Referee: Ethan Nundy, Scunthorpe
Bookings: Dickinson, Palmer (Workington)
Attendance: 612
