MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 3-0 Unisun Athletic

Workington overcame the poor playing surface and spirited opponents to progress into the last four of the Cumberland Cup.

It was a relatively straightforward win in the end, against County League Athletic, although the Carlisle outfit almost raced into a shock lead.  Ryan Swailes sped through unchallenged and Danny Eccles dived to his right to palm the ball to safety, with less than a minute on the clock.

It was one of Unisun’s rare attempts at goal but it might have produced a different scenario had it gone in.

Lee Andrews was in charge of the makeshift Reds team which included six Academy graduates.  And two of those, Harrison Telford and Josh Palmer, scored the first half goals that paved the bumpy road to victory.

Kai Nugent was a provider both with Telford’s ‘header’ breaking the deadlock after eight minutes following a corner routine, and Palmer’s crisp low shot, five minutes before the break, doubling the advantage following an interception and positive run by Nugent.

Palmer was finding himself in good areas but couldn’t add to his first half goal after squandering several decent opportunities.

Isaac Whitehall tested Athletic ‘keeper Ben Greig with a well struck ‘thirty-yarder’ in the first half then headed home an inviting cross, via Josh Galloway’s freekick, in the sixty-fourth minute.

Unisun were reduced to ten men after seventy-two minutes when Dave Nelson was red-carded for an elbow offence on Reds’ skipper, Ceiran Casson.   

Workington: Eccles, Casson, Leslie, Whitehall, Telford (Johnston, 79), Dickinson (Swinglehurst, 46) Galloway (Carney, 66), Ellis (TJ Cueto, 56), Palmer, McDonough, Nugent. Substitute – Paden-Gale (not used).

Unisun Athletic: Greig, Cox, Abba, Watson. Carter, Nixon (Reay, 57), Johnstone, McDonald (Patrick, 80), Dickinson (Nelson, 57), Swailes (Nicholson, 69), Dorward (Williamson 57).

Referee: Michael Studholme, Penrith

Booking: Swailes (Unisun Athletic)

Red card: Nelson (Unisun Athletic)

Attendance: 172