MATCH REPORT: Gretna 3-0 Workington U18

The young Reds found it tough going at Raydale Park and fell to defeat in torrential rain.

This batch of players, albeit missing a few on the night, will form the squad for the JPL in the new season as they make the transition from junior football.

Workington actually started well and looked the better side in the early stages.  They could have taken the lead had they showed a little more composure in front of goal, Liam White, in particular, testing the Gretna’ keeper on a couple of occasions.

Gretna began to dominate and had Reds under the cosh for long spells.  But a combination of good defending and a string of excellent saves from the outstanding Joe Rumney kept the Black & Whites at bay.

That was until the twenty-fifth minute when Reds failed to deal with a corner and Harry Aitchison converted from close range.

After the interval, Reds were more competitive but they still looked a little too anxious on the ball and keeping possession was proving difficult.

Joe Douglas and Jayden Fulton impressed overall but the team lacked that cutting edge in the final third.  They came close to levelling matters when Oscar Pickering was denied by the home ‘keeper.

And in pushing forward trying to save the game, Reds were punished twice after losing possession in midfield.  Jayden Ingleton doubled their lead after sixty-two minutes and the same player made it three five minutes before the end.

Overall, it was a good first outing for the new team with plenty of positives to reflect on but general improvement required.

Team: Rumney, Routledge, Jackson, Sowerby, French, Douglas, Thomson, White L, Fulton, Pickering, Whitworth.  Substitutes – Roberts, Hodgson, White C, Carini (all used).