MATCH REPORT: Stocksbridge Park Steels 0-1 Workington AFC

Workington emerged narrow but deserved winners in what was their first visit to the Bracken Moor Stadium for twenty-one years.

The Premier Division encounter is expected to be the final match under the interim managership of Brian Dawson and Billy Redden, with the club hoping to announce their new managerial team this week.

And Dawson was full of praise for the squad who put in an impressive shift against a Steels side who also lost their manager and his staff this week. That probably worked in Reds’ favour as the hosts looked well below par.

To a man, though, Reds were up for the challenge with excellent performances all over the pitch epitomised by senior stalwarts Jordan Little, Ceiran Casson and Steven Rigg leading by example.

They provided a solid spine to the side as the Cumbrians ended a sequence of six games without a win.

The winner came just before the hour mark and definitely won’t be a contender for Reds’ ‘goal of the season’. Its importance cannot be undervalued, however, and was celebrated on and off the pitch with a mixture of joy and relief.

Tom Stephenson had been thwarted when his shot had been parried by Ben Townsend, Kai Nugent’s follow-up header was also blocked but the diminutive number ten bundled the ball over the line at the second attempt, despite the presence of a Steels defender.

But this was no smash and grab victory and the three points would have been obtained with a tad more comfort had Reds shown a little more composure in front of goal.

Steels had landed the first shot on target but Alex Mitchell scrambled away Kurtis Turner’s free-kick at the foot of his near post and was rarely tested thereafter.

Luke Ellis’ deflected shot was gathered by Townsend and skipper Rigg was denied by a late challenge which produced the only corner of the first half.

Reds showed more adventure after the break – before and after the match-winning goal.

Dan Hopper, making his first NPL start, was unlucky not to mark the occasion with his maiden goal for the club, twice denied by Townsend before sending a free-kick high over the bar.

Fellow teenager Alfie McDonough was inches away from scoring and both Stephenson and Nugent forced Townsend into a couple of other routine saves.

The welcome win, just Workington’s second of a troubled campaign, lifted them off the foot of the table and boosted morale ahead of the announcement of Darren Edmondson’s successor.

The boys were brilliant today and I’m so proud of them. It was great to get the win but equally pleasing to keep a clean sheet and Billy and I can hand over to the new regime with another three points on the board.

Said a delighted Dawson, who now returns to his day job as the club’s Academy manager.

Stocksbridge Park Steels: Townsend, Charlesworth, Smythe (Tinker, 62), Turner, Owen, Iggulden, Deakin, O’Connor (Kay, 74), Morris, Wilkinson (Watson, 56), Degruchy (Marshall, 63). Substitute – Roxburgh (not used).

Workington: Mitchell, Atkinson, Dickinson, Casson, Little, Swinglehurst (Stephenson, 10), Galloway, Ellis (McGladdery, 59), Rigg, Nugent (McDonough, 74), Hopper. Substitutes – Leslie, Eccles (not used).

Referee: Kieran Chell, Manchester

Booking: Iggulden (Stocksbridge Park Steels)

Attendance: 242