MATCH REPORT: Warrington Town 2-2 Workington AFC
Manager Billy Barr didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after his team extended their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
He was reasonably happy with the overall performance but left to reflect on another serious injury to his threadbare squad.
Inspirational skipper, Brad Carroll, was carried off before the half hour mark, becoming the latest long-term absentee. And, whilst he was being transported to hospital for assessment, the team lost its shape and rhythm.
From a position of near dominance in the opening twenty-five minutes, they reached the interval in arrears after handing the initiative back to a home team, a little short of confidence themselves.
Yet the character shone through in the second half and the game’s best player, Brennan Dickenson, restored parity with a wonder strike fifteen minutes from time.
Workington had gone in front after twelve minutes when Carroll met Jake Allan’s corner at the near post and guided the ball through a crowded area and beyond Mateusz Hewelt.
But, after breaking up Town’s attempted sorties forward and starting everything positive from a Reds perspective, an accidental collision ended his night prematurely. Dickenson had fouled Harry McHugh and the latter appeared to fall on to the scorer, who was forced to retire with his left ankle the problem.
Chances to add to the opening goal were squandered – Simon Rigby had a shot saved and Luke Ellis should have done better with a far post header.
Workington had lost their edge and the hosts, without a league win since early September, turned the game on its head.
McHugh started the move which culminated in Callum Edwards receiving the ball out wide, and he rifled a superb cross shot beyond Danny Eccles for the leveller.
It got better for the hosts, and worse for the Cumbrians, on the stroke of half time. Ewan Bange hadn’t caused the visitors too many problems in the air but eased past Jake Allan on the ground to drive home the second and a surprise lead for Town.
Barr had words with his troops at half time and, what ever was said, the scolding had some effect.
Josh Palmer sent two efforts wide and Allan also failed to hit the target from a free kick whilst, at the other end, McHugh wasted a chance to extend Warrington’s lead.
McHugh and Dickenson were the stand-out players but a coming together between the two talents sparked a controversial melee. McHugh’s over-zealous challenge on Reds’ number nine sparked a retaliation and a little ‘free-for-all’ developed.
McHugh was booked for the initial foul but Dickenson escaped punishment.
Then, two minutes later, Dickenson upset those of a yellow persuasion even more. He was drifting out to the left but skilfully chopped the ball back onto his less favoured right foot, and hammered home an unstoppable shot, from fully twenty-five yards, for the seventy-fifth minute game saver.
Town created a few half chances late in the game and kept the pressure on from several corners, but Reds managed the later stages of the second half better than they did at the end of the first!
A point apiece was just about right.
Warrington Town: Hewelt, McNally (Bjork, 80), Doherty, Earl, Gumbs, Butler, Goodwin, McHugh (Hawkins, 80), Bange (Elliott, 63), Daly, Sadiq (Edwards, 37). Substitute – Bayode (not used).
Workington: Eccles, Casson, Leslie, Rigby, Whitehall, Allan (Thomson, 85), Hopper (Jacobs, 64), Carroll (Palmer, 28), Dickenson, Ellis (Grayson, 55), Hunter (McDonough, 83).
Referee: Hadley Warhurst, Stalybridge
Bookings: McHugh (Warrington Town), Casson, Rigby (Workington)
Attendance: 507
