MATCH REPORT: Turton FC U23 1-3 Workington AFC U23

Billy Barr introduced himself to the Reds squad before kick-off then watched the U23s extend their winning run to six matches in their latest Lancashire League fixture.

But they had to come from behind to claim the points against their mid-table opponents, inflicting a league double over them in the process.

It was quite even throughout the first half with Reds going close through Josh Palmer and Rob Davidson but Turton winning, then subsequently wasting, several corners.

The hosts opened the scoring three minutes before the interval when overlapping full back, Ethan Hall, found himself in acres of space on the left. He cut in then guided the ball past Scott Paden-Gale to give Turton the lead.

Within four minutes of the restart, though, Reds were back in business. Palmer had been thwarted by the home ‘keeper who saved well to keep out a well struck shot.

Josh Palmer

Then, in their next meaningful attack, Palmer netted a sublime equaliser. The ball was won in midfield and the number nine got to the ball before his marker and lobbed into the net from thirty yards.

Turton were reduced to ten men after sixty-three minutes when Callum Whitney was sent-off. The midfielder had been booked in the first half for a dangerous challenge on Jack Burns but his second tackle looked innocuous. The referee thought otherwise and produced a second yellow.

It took Reds a few minutes to get going again, despite the numerical advantage, and Ryan Hanford and Zach Martin squandered reasonable chances.

Owen Johnston then saw a close-range header rebound off the crossbar before the Turton ‘keeper was injured in the melee which followed.

The Bolton side almost regained the lead via a free-kick which narrowly missed the target.

It was Reds who grabbed the third goal of the evening, however, with another special goal from Palmer. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, he made himself a yard of space before finding the net with a powerful finish, putting Reds in front for the first time after eighty-three minutes.

And they secured the points two minutes later when Callum Bell and Rob Davidson combined well before the latter drove the ball home for his first goal in red.

Rob Davidson

Turton pieced together the game’s last attack but Hall’s shot rebounded off the crossbar to preserve the two-goal winning margin.

Team: Scott Paden-Gale, Luke Routledge, Callum Bell, Owen Johnston, Louis Pickering, Zach Martin, Jack Burns, Rob Davidson, Josh Palmer, Harley Cueto, Shane Tyson. Substitutes -Ryan Handford, Bobby White, Ben Whitworth (all used).