MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 0-1 Leek Town

Knowing they were safe from relegation before a ball was kicked took away that competitive edge from Workington’s performance but, apart from a goal on the last day ever at Borough Park, it was party time in the sun.

What a fantastic occasion and full credit to the club for making the farewell to the place they have called home for eighty-nine years, a truly memorable finale.

Of course, we all wanted to say goodbye with a positive result yet, that apart, the day will live long in the memory.

As it happened, Leek’s Hayden Campbell had the satisfaction of scoring the last ever goal at the iconic ground and his twenty-sixth minute strike secured a sixth consecutive victory as Josh Brehaut’s side finished their season in style.

Reds’ form over the same period was hit and miss but they did just enough to survive the drop which, for much of the season, looked a certainty.    

Kick-off had to be delayed to allow the bumper crowd onto the terraces and once the emotional last ‘lap of honour’ was completed by a wonderful array of Reds’ ‘old boys’, Billy Barr’s class of 2026 put in one final shift on the dry bumpy surface.

As they have for the last six months, they gave another committed display but just lacked that bit of guile in the final third and Leek’s defence laid the foundation for a good solid away performance.

They didn’t create as many chances as the hosts but they converted the one that separated the sides, to maintain their impressive record in west Cumbria.

A few half chances were fashioned by the home side, the best of which - a crisp low shot from Dan Hopper – brought the best out of Town goalkeeper, Dino Visser but other attempts from Tom Stephenson, Matty Tymon, and Jack Dickinson didn’t trouble the South African stopper.

The final standings in the NPL Premier Division, saw Reds come to rest in 18^th position with 43 points which highlights the importance of that home draw v. Cleethorpes in their penultimate Borough Park appearance.  Dan Hopper’s late equaliser felt important at the time and he can now claim to be the last Workington Reds scorer at a stadium loved by many.    

Farewell Borough Park and thanks for the memories.

Workington: Mitchell (Eccles, 58), Casson, Leslie (Barnes, 69), Whitehall, Little, Dickinson, Allan (Galloway, 71), Carroll (Ellis, 66), Tymon, Stephenson, Palmer (Hopper, 71).

Leek Town: Visser, Buckley, Ndene (Suffell, 64), Meadowcroft, Edwards, Heywood, Hurst, Reeves, Potts (Heath, 75), Campbell (Leigh, 62), Weir (Porter, 62).  Substitute – Curl (not used).

Referee: Nick Vincent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Bookings: Casson (Workington), Heywood, Brehaut (Leek Town)

Attendance: 2,387