MATCH REPORT: Whitehaven AFC 0-4 Workington AFC
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- 2 min read
Brian Dawson was happy with the brave performance from his young Whitehaven side, Billy Barr reasonably so with what he saw from blue-shirted Reds, the crowd were well entertained on a beautiful summer evening and the British Polio Association benefitted to the tune of £537.
The Shaun Hocking Memorial Trophy fixture proved a worthwhile exercise once more as the annual curtain-raiser delivered on all fronts.
For both teams, it was a third pre-season outing and although higher-ranked Workington dominated for much of the game, Whitehaven stuck to the task and gave a good account of themselves.
Reds were without a handful of senior players but there was a welcome return to the squad, for now, for Dan Hopper. He got a run-out in the second half as did goalkeeper, Thomas Randall, and talented teenagers Ben Whitworth and Ted Thomson.
Whitehaven won the game’s first corner then had to defend a series of set pieces at the other end. Joe Rumney, one of many familiar faces representing the home side, saved well to thwart Luke Hunter as Reds went in search of the ‘early goal’.
They did take the lead after nine minutes with Brennan Dickenson driving home his first goal for the club, through a crowded goal mouth.
Joe Carney’s header at the other end, via Aidan Smith’s cross, lacked the power to trouble Danny Eccles and it was a similar outcome for Kian Goulding’s ‘twenty- yarder’ which the Workington ‘keeper gathered comfortably.
The hosts kept the NPL outfit at bay until the half hour mark before Luke Hunter doubled Reds’ lead with a close- range finish, via Jake Allan’s inch perfect cross from the right.
Allan made it three on the stroke of half time when he swept home another decent cross to effectively put the game beyond ‘Haven.
And it was definitely all over within two minutes of the restart, this time from a chance carved out on the left flank.
The outstanding Dickenson chipped the ball into the danger area and Simon Rigby volleyed past Az Carter for his maiden goal for the club.
Dickenson then saw another good effort superbly saved by Carter who deflected the ball onto the bar and over.
Both teams introduced the usual plethora of substitutes throughout the second half as the game lost its competitive edge.
Josh Palmer did get the ball in the Whitehaven net just before the end but was adjudged to have fouled Carter in the process and the goalkeeper was able to take the free-kick, himself, after treatment.
Whitehaven Club President, Bill Robson, presented the Trophy to Reds’ Ceiran Casson whilst Whitehaven’s Keenan Mackay collected the ‘man of the match’ award.
Whitehaven: Rumney, Wright, Smith, Carter S, Jackson, Harrison, Mackay, Routledge, Goulding, Frampton, Carney. Substitutes – Carter A, Martin, Johnston, Hilton, King, White, Mason, Norford (all used).
Workington: Eccles, Casson, Leslie, Ellis, Douglas, Dickinson J, Allan, Rigby, Palmer, Dickenson B, Hunter. Substitutes – Barnes, Stephenson, Thomson, Hopper, Lowrie, Whitworth, Randall (all used).
Referee: Leigh Musgrave (Rowan Johnstone)
Attendance: 162
