MATCH REPORT: Hyde United 0-1 Workington AFC
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
A tense nervous affair with both teams all too aware of the importance of this fixture. But Workington, when not at their best in a poor first half, did not flinch and, ultimately, just about deserved three priceless points.
For their part, Hyde were left to rue a number of decent chances which were squandered, I suspect, because of the pressure of the circumstances.
If Workington lacked quality as an offensive unit, they certainly made up for it with their stubborn resilience and staying in the game was certainly the remit during the opening forty-five minutes.
Tunde Owolabi deflected one early opportunity wide following a free-kick and was then denied at close range by an alert Alex Mitchell after Dontai Gabidon’s meandering run.
Gabidon then picked up a loose clearance but sent his shot high over the bar and his next raid, down the right, culminated in a teasing low pass across the face of goal with the Hyde frontmen conspicuous by their absence.
Harry Ditchfield then added to the list of wasted opportunities when his shot was wayward.
To underline the lack of quality in the opening half, Hyde registered the first corner in the forty-fifth minute.
Gabidon’s exciting forty yards run down the flank brought the home support to life, soon after the restart, but Edy Maieco failed to convert the cross, instead blasting the ball high and wide.
And when Taylor McMahon did the same a few minutes later, Workington moved up a couple of gears, sensing there was more than one point available in this game.
By his recent standards, Isaac Whitehall had been quiet in the first half but he and the outstanding Brad Carroll got a grip in the second half and Workington grew into the game.
Reds’ first opportunity of note was via Whitehall’s twenty-two yard free-kick which arrowed towards goal on the hour mark. It needed to be saved and Li-Bau Stowell’s finger-tip connection touched the ball over for Workington’s first corner.
Josh Galloway had been introduced as a replacement for Dan Hopper and made a stunning impact. He collected the ball on the left flank, danced inside past two Hyde players then caught the ball perfectly to send it whistling past the helpless Stowell in the sixty-sixth minute.
It was a goal fit to win any game and, although there was still twenty-five minutes remaining, it visibly knocked the stuffing out of the hosts and boosted confidence levels in Billy Barr’s in-form team.
The contest, never a classic, became a little feisty and Max Harrop’s brief time on the pitch epitomised Hyde’s frustration. He collected a yellow card for one minor skirmish but, soon after, was sent-off and first back to the dressing rooms after barging Luke Ellis into the perimeter fence. Neither Harrop or Ellis started, or finished, the game.
Matty Tymon started his third spell as a Red and he and Will Hall wrestled each other all afternoon. What an asset he will be at this crucial period.
The superb team spirit was evident throughout as Reds completed a league double and book-ended Barr’s time in the Borough Park hot seat. He started the revival in November against Hyde and his calm, composed approach since has been a revelation.
But, as he continually reminds us, there is still so much to be done over the remaining half dozen matches.
Hyde United: Stowell, Ditchfield, McMahon, Jones-Griffiths (Bunney, 83), Duxbury, Hall, Maieco, Fearnley (Harrop, 72), Owolabi (Redshaw, 72), Pratt, Gabidon. Substitutes – Kershaw, Park (not used).
Workington: Mitchell, Casson, Dickinson, Whitehall, Little, Swinglehurst, Allan (Stephenson,78), Carroll, Tymon, Nugent (Ellis, 81), Hopper (Galloway, 58). Substitute – Symington (replaced Ellis, 90), Leslie (not used).
Referee: Arran Williams, Brighouse
Bookings: Duxbury, Gabidon, Harrop (Hyde United), Whitehall (Workington)
Red card: Harrop (Hyde United, two yellows)
Attendance: 570
