MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 1-1 Caledonian Braves

It was hard work surviving in the sweltering heat at Borough Park – and that was just for the spectators!

So, credit to the extended squads of Workington and Caledonian Braves who delivered a decent contest in the first ever meeting between the Northern Premier and Lowland League sides.

Reds handed home debuts to Will McGladdery, Jack Dickinson, Tommy Dawson, Luke Ellis and Nathan Reid with James Bell and Keelan Leslie welcomed back after spells elsewhere.

With a cast of dozens, it was never going to be a brilliant spectacle from start to finish but I think the sun-drenched crowd appreciated the effort and skills on show in a game of few clear-cut chances.

The Braves, Scotland’s youngest senior club, probably created the better opportunities but had to come from behind to salvage a deserved draw.

Reds opened the scoring after thirty-two minutes from a set piece routine. Dav Symington delivered his customary free-kick to the far post, the ball was headed into the danger area and Luke Ellis judged the high bounce, and timed his leap, to power home his first goal for the club.

Bright Prince, down the middle, and Zac Butterworth, an old-fashioned right winger, were causing problems in the early stages but, after a few scares, the Braves threat was nullified.

Their equaliser was more a case of ‘route one’ when the Reds defence was undone by the tried and trusted long ball down the middle and Ross McNeil got behind the last line to level matters six minutes after the restart.

There was a nice touch fifteen minutes before the end when Youth team goalkeeper, Joe Rumney, was given his first team debut, a cameo which saw the talented teenager make a couple of routine saves. A proud moment for him and his family.

“It was a good test for us today in difficult conditions and all the players we used will have benefitted in some way.

“We are quite happy where we are at the moment and it’s coming together nicely,” was Darren Edmondson’s positive post-match assessment.

Workington: (first half): Mitchell, Martin, Bell C, McGladdery, Dickinson, Swinglehurst, Symington, Bell J, Dawson, Ellis, Galloway.

(second half): Mitchell (Rumney), Routledge, Little, Pickering, Leslie, Casson, Christian, Nugent, Reid, Rigg, McDonough.

Caledonian Braves: White, Stewart G, Guthrie, Martins, Butterworth, Kelly, McNeil, Trialist, Prince, Finlayson, Walker. Substitutes – King, Brown, Stewart R, Murray, McCartney, McLaren, Allan, Walker, Abbott, McArthur.

Referee: Scott Henry, Carlisle

Attendance: 343