MATCH REPORT: Morpeth Town 2-0 Workington AFC

A déjà vu moment for caretaker manager, Brian Dawson, who, for the second time this year, found himself in charge of team affairs at Morpeth’s Craik Park.

Towards the end of last season, he and Billy Redden held the reins after Mark Fell’s departure and they were pressed back into service this term after Darren Edmondson left the club.

The outcome was the same, Workington losing without laying a glove on their opponents.

There was a happy ending to last season, though, with Workington finishing in a somewhat false position of twelfth. It could be a far more damaging scenario this time with Reds now cut adrift at the foot of the Premier Division table.

Once again, there was no shortage of effort and commitment but Reds were second best all over the pitch and once Morpeth opened the scoring, mid-way through the first half, there was an inevitability about the outcome.

That opening quarter of the game was quite even and competitive and Reds did have a spring in their step. But two goals within five minutes changed the mood and, other than a little flurry just before half time, it was a tame surrender from the Cumbrians.

Nic Ballado’s close range finish broke the deadlock after twenty-four minutes and Dan Myers’ free header soon after doubled the advantage, giving Craig Lynch’s side the confidence to go on and win this bottom of the table scrap.

Reds had already suffered an early blow, losing Jake Allan’s services as the midfielder’s injury woes continued.

Yet if Workington could have reduced the arrears before half time the outcome may have been different and they did come close to doing so. David Symington saw a thumping half-volley pushed away by Dan Langley’s strong right hand and, in the next attack, the ‘keeper gathered another effort from the Reds’ skipper.

Other than that, the Town stopper had a comfortable afternoon and wasn’t as busy as Alex Mitchell who made the save of the match to thwart Sam Hodgson and was often under pressure from many of the corners won by the home side.

Reds did give it a go after the break but there was little or no threat in the final third and Morpeth kept them at arm’s length and never looked in danger of conceding.

“We moved the ball about reasonably well but Morpeth were far more efficient in both boxes and that’s where games are won and lost,” lamented a pragmatic Dawson.

On the managerial front, the Reds hierarchy have received external interest for the vacant manager’s post although there won’t be any developments for another week at least.

Time is of the essence, though, but the Board know the importance of getting the right man.

Morpeth Town: Langley, Evans, Gibson-Booth, Myers, Henderson, King, James, Dowling, Hooper (Hodgson, 70), Martins (Chater, 44), Bollado. Substitutes – Chungh, Gordon, Giraud (not used).

Workington: Mitchell, Atkinson (Swinglehurst, 62), Leslie (Fitzpatrick, 46), Casson (Hopper, 75), Little, Dickinson, Symington, Allan (Galloway, 21), Rigg, Ellis (McGladdery, 85), McCaragher.

Referee: Joel Tilmouth, Ashington

Bookings: Dickinson, Redden (Workington)

Attendance: 413