MATCH REPORT: Penrith AFC 1-1 Workington AFC

One of the aims of pre-season is for the team to show steady improvement week-on-week and we certainly saw a better Workington version at Frenchfield than the one we witnessed in their first outing.

They had general control throughout the game, dominated possession, created far more chances than the opposition, showed more cohesion and, generally, appear to be heading in the right direction.

Of course, the standard of opposition has also to be taken into consideration and a new-look Penrith team proved stubborn, well-disciplined and competitive.

But Darren Edmondson, who swapped one technical area for the other in May, highlighted a few concerns from the Workington squad he is rebuilding.

“We played too many long balls which usually cost us possession and we have to become more ruthless in the final third,” he lamented afterwards. 

Releasing the ball quicker and better decision making could be added to the ‘must improve’ reminder on the whiteboard.   

Thomas Randall was certainly the busiest of the four ‘keepers used and he made two fine saves to thwart Reds’ skipper, David Symington, in the early stages before Robbie Hebson tested Alex Mitchell at the other end.

Harvey Reay also did his bit to keep Penrith in the game with an agile, finger-tip save to deny Kai Nugent and another hurried attempt from Symington.

The game became more open following the onrush of substitutes.

Steven Rigg, a revered Penrith player well over a decade ago, did lob the ball into the net but he was marginally offside and the ‘goal’ was disallowed.  But he did find the target, again, with a crisp shot on the turn, from all off twenty-five yards, to give the West Cumbrians a 78^th minute lead.

Rigg’s strike was generously applauded by ‘double the average’ crowd but so too was the Bonny Blues equaliser five minutes from time.

DJ Taylor, another forward who can list both clubs on his CV, curled in a fine shot seconds after Danny Eccles had saved well to deny Connor Shields, and a good work-out for both sides finished all square.

Penrith will be underway with their season proper before the end of July, Reds’ rehearsals will go on a little longer.

Penrith: Randall, Potts, Bell M, Thompson, McKenna, Best, Makar, Brown, Mason, Story, Hebson.  Substitutes – Williamson, Reay, Hope, Moynan, Morrey, Taylor, Shields, Jolly (all used).

Workington (starting XI): Mitchell, Galloway, Hill, Casson, Dickinson, Little, Symington, McGladdery, Reid, Nugent, Dawson.

(finishing XI): Eccles, Routledge, Bell C, Pickering, Telford, Christian, Douglas, Trialist, Bell J, Palmer, Rigg.

Referee: Scott Henry, Carlisle

Attendance: 230