MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 0-1 Stockton Town

Stockton completed the league double over luckless Reds for the second successive season, but had to work for the points on this occasion as a fine, determined effort from the hosts went unrewarded.

The only goal of an even contest came via the penalty spot in the twenty-seventh minute when Taylor Magloire tripped the fleet-footed Kevin Hayes. The latter took the spot-kick himself and, although it wasn’t the cleanest of strikes, the ball found a way past Danny Eccles for what proved the only goal of the contest.

Reds had gone into the game without the suspended Jordan Little and the injured trio of David Symington, Tom Stephenson and Alex Mitchell but introduced Isaac Whitehall (inset) for his debut.

Isaac Whitehall

Prior to the goal, Workington were bemoaning their luck when two passages of play went against them.

The first followed a fine attacking move, which opened up Town’s rearguard, and culminated in skipper Steven Rigg meeting Josh Galloway’s inch-perfect cross only for his header to hit the post and rebound into play.

But their misfortune was compounded in the eighteenth minute when a fully committed 50/50 challenge between Charlie Barnes and Cameron Painter resulted in the former being shown a straight red card by the referee, who deemed the Workington player’s involvement in the incident as dangerous.

It was Barnes’ second red of the season so could result in an extra game ban.

Yet despite having to play the final hour with just ten men, Reds produced a fully committed performance which deserved some tangible reward.

Both sides hit the woodwork – Amar Purewal’s second half effort struck the same upright that had denied Rigg earlier – and both had a goal disallowed for an obvious offside in the build-up. Greg McCaragher had the ball in the net for Workington and Amar Purewal converted for Town.

Other than that, clear-cut chances were few and far between.

Rigg’s control, run and shot would have been a moment to savour had he found the net but Nathan Harker saved routinely as he did after good work from Kai Nugent in the second half. A Nugent effort in the first half just curled over the bar and had it been a foot lower it might have troubled the Stockton ‘keeper.

Reds used all five of their substitutes, Town brought on the four they named as both managers utilised their full squad. And of those who entered the fray late in the game, Josh Palmer’s contribution caught the eye.

He saw one instinctive volley fly narrowly over the bar then a determined recovery earned him a second chance which just missed the target.

If Nugent impressed for Reds, then Hayes did for Town. Both were excellent on the ball in the Borough Park mud and caused problems throughout.

So, no early Christmas present for the Workington faithful, who now see their team effectively eight points from safety, but still showing the spirit needed to get them out of this situation.

Workington: Eccles, Barnes, Dickinson, Casson, Swinglehurst (Leslie, 80), Magloire (Ellis, 67), Galloway (Palmer, 62), Whitehall, Rigg, Nugent (Allan, 88), Hopper (McCaragher, 72).

Stockton Town: Harker, Painter (Arjun Purewal, 28), Gallagher, King, Nicholson, Coulthard, Scott (Sweet, 72), Petitjean (Unigwe, 80), Amar Purewal, Thompson (Bramwell, 59), Hayes.

Referee: Ethan Murray, Blackburn

Bookings: Whitehall (Workington), Petitjean, Thompson, Unigwe (Stockton Town)

Red card: Barnes (Workington)

Attendance: 754

Photos: Brett Thurlow