MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 3-0 Hednesford Town
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A warm feeling emerged at a bitterly cold Borough Park as Reds emerged deserved winners against promotion chasers, Hednesford.
After spending most of the campaign in the relegation zone, they ended the day in 16th position and, simultaneously, dealt a serious blow to Town’s title aspirations.
It was as good a team performance as we have seen all season and extended the unbeaten run to nine matches.
A little bit of luck helped them on their way, after surviving a couple of early scares in the opening minutes. Montel Gibson’s header hit the post and a follow-up effort was cleared off the line.
But thereafter, rejuvenated Reds dominated to such an extent that the Staffordshire outfit didn’t know whether to play, go direct or battle their way to victory as Workington won every individual duel.
They were in front after sixteen minutes with The Pitmen undone at the coalface by a set-piece. Jack Dickinson delivered the ball into the box, Matty Tymon nodded the ball down and Jake Allan reacted first to guide the ball past the helpless Tony Breeden.
And they doubled their advantage just before half time in similar fashion. Steven Swinglehurst was unchallenged in the area and, as the ball dropped conveniently, he lashed it into the net from ten yards – a considerable distance compared to his previous goals.
If the travelling support was expecting a second half revival from their team, it didn’t materialise and Workington always looked the more likely to add to the score line.
Reds had to shuffle the pack when influential skipper, Brad Carroll, was forced to retire at half time and it was his replacement, Tom Stephenson, who almost scored with an audacious chip from thirty yards. The ball appeared to hold up because of the blustery conditions and rebounded off the crossbar.
And Tymon also attempted two efforts from distance. The first he miscued and was well wide of the target but the second, a lob from thirty-five yards, had the back-pedalling Breeden fumbling the ball to safety.
Ahkeem Rose’s acrobatic attempt cleared the bar and another effort from Town just curled wide of the far post as they failed to give their fans a goal of little consolation.
It was buoyant Workington who got the third goal with Keelan Leslie slotting home his second goal of the campaign.
He overlapped down the left and received the perfectly weighted pass from David Symington. His first touch was good and his second even better as an instinctive low shot had fans celebrating before the ball crossed the line.
Swinglehurst was substituted just before time and got the standing ovation he deserved but all sixteen players deserve the plaudits as individuals, and a team, for an outstanding performance.
Workington: Mitchell, Casson, Dickinson (Leslie, 24), Whitehall, Little, Swinglehurst (Barnes, 90), Allan, Carroll (Stephenson, 46), Tymon, Nugent (Symington, 80), Galloway (Hopper, 84).
Hednesford Town: Breeden, Morgan, Taylor (Maye, 26), Hussey, Harrison, Doyle-Charles, Trickett-Smith (McHale, 55), Kinsella, Gibson (Turner, 80), Rose, Hylton (Jervis, 66). Substitute – Tideswell (not used).
Referee: Alex Clark, Gateshead
Bookings: Nugent, Whitehall, Little (Workington), Doyle-Charles, Rose (Hednesford Town)
Attendance: 1,081
