MATCH REPORT: Warrington Town 2-3 Workington AFC
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- 3 min read
We all know that lightening can strike the same place twice and this result provided further evidence to support the theory.
Back in 1995, Reds were in a similar position and travelled to Cantilever Park needing a victory to help them survive relegation. They found themselves two goals down at the interval, fought back magnificently and won by the odd goal in five.
Fast forward thirty-one years and we had the same scenario with Reds coming from two-nil down, to score three second half goals and complete Billy Barr’s ‘great escape’ plan.
The three priceless points will keep them in the NPL Premier Division next term
What a magnificent achievement from Barr, his staff, the team, directors and long-suffering supporters.
Surviving relegation by the skin of your teeth is not really a celebratory moment, but this achievement was different as the team looked a spent force when Autumn turned to Winter but had bonded into an effective unit as Spring makes way for Summer.
This was a game of two halves in a season of two halves.
A goal behind in the second minute and fortunate not to be more than two down at the break, Reds turned up in the second half leaving both sets of supporters astonished by an incredible fightback.
Town have underachieved, by their recent standards at this level, yet looked as though they were going to finish on a high after a dominant first half display against out-of-sorts Reds.
The strong away support was in good voice before kick-off but were stunned into silence when Town opened the scoring after sixty-two seconds. A great pass sliced open Reds’ rearguard and Elliot Morris timed his run to perfection before confidently guiding the ball beyond Alex Mitchell for the opener.
Reds recovered from the shock and their first opportunity came from a corner which Steven Swinglehurst headed straight into Liam Isherwood’s hands.
Back came the hosts, with Jordan Scanlon inches away from converting a low cross at the far post.
And disjointed Reds survived again when the unmarked Kallan Murphy saw his header rebound off the crossbar.
But they did fall further behind after conceding a free-kick towards the touchline. Reece Daly went for the near post, when Mitchell probably expected a deeper cross, and the ‘keeper could only help the ball into the net.
The half ended in more frustration when Keelan Leslie had a great chance to reduce the arrears but sliced his shot wide from close range.
Other results at that stage would have culminated in a return to the relegation zone so immense credit to Reds for turning the game on its head.
They struck lucky in the fifty-fifth minute when Jake Allan capitalised on a mix-up between the Town goalkeeper and a defender, with the on-loan midfielder able to walk the loose ball into the net for his second goal of the season.
And, all of sudden, the pendulum swung in Workington’s favour.
They equalised after seventy minutes via a well-worked set piece routine. Brad Carroll delivered the ball towards the far post, Jordan Little headed back into the danger zone and there was Josh Palmer (inset) to confidently head home his first league goal for the club with a precise finish.
Then, in the eightieth minute, Tom Stephenson, broke through and outpaced the last defender and netted the winner with his first goal of an injury-ravaged campaign, sparking pandemonium on the terraces.
Town hadn’t been in the contest throughout the second half but caused a few heart flutters amongst the Workington faithful with a few late sorties towards Mitchell’s goal.
But Workington had learned their lessons from that poor first half showing and remained resolute through the six minutes of added time.
They finished the day in 17th position to preserve their Premier Division status, regardless of what happens in the final match at Borough Park!
Warrington Town: Isherwood, Melhado, Doyle (Lloyd, 64), Tweedley, Gumbs, Bourne, Scanlon, Vela, Murphy, Daly, Morris (Thompson, 75). Substitutes – Noone, Roper (not used).
Workington: Mitchell, Casson, Leslie, Whitehall, Little, Swinglehurst (Dickinson, 72), Allan (Ellis, 89), Carroll, Tymon, Stephenson (Hopper,80), Galloway (Palmer, 64). Substitute – Barnes (not used).
Referee: Joseph Hind, Preston
Bookings: Melhado, Doyle, Gumbs, Bourne, Vela, Murphy (Warrington Town), Swinglehurst, Carroll, Stephenson (Workington).
Attendance: 711
