MATCH REPORT: Winstanley Warriors U23 0-2 Workington AFC U23

Reds extended their winning run in the Lancashire League to nine matches and increased the lead at the top of the table to nine points.

This was a first ever meeting between the clubs, with the Wigan outfit currently fifth in the West Division.

The Cumbrians included four members of the 18s group, but also named Brad Carroll as an overage player in the line-up.  He played the full ninety minutes in preparation for his return to first team action next week.

It was an even contest throughout the first half although Workington squandered four good chances and Scott Paden-Gale was called upon to make three good saves, keeping Warriors at bay.

The breakthrough came in the fifty-seventh minute when Shane Tyson opened the scoring just seconds after being introduced to the game as a substitute.  He latched on to a searching through ball from Zach Martin and a deft touch took the ball away from the Warriors’ ‘keeper, before it slowly rolled into the net.

Five minutes later, Reds doubled their lead with a good low finish from Dan Hill, his tenth goal of a fine personal campaign. 

Dan Hill and Shane Tyson

Only five of the six flood light pylons were working so credit to both teams and the officials for completing the game with one section of the pitch in semi-darkness.

Indeed, Reds defended the ‘dark’ side of the pitch efficiently then pounced with the two second half goals to lift the gloom.

Zach Martin and Owen Johnston impressed with a calm authority at the heart of the defence, Zach Benson-Lester and Carroll bossed the midfield with the work rate throughout the team impressive.

Team: Scott Paden-Gale, Luke Routledge, Louis Pickering, Owen Johnston, Zach Martin, Brad Carroll, Dan Hill, Jack Burns, Leo Brennan, Zach Benson-Lester, Joe Carney.  Substitutes – Ryan Handford, Shane Tyson, Harley Cueto, Charlie White (all used).