MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 3-2 Hyde United

A home win at last and one achieved from a thoroughly entertaining encounter at Borough Park, making Billy Barr’s first game in charge a rather special occasion.

The new manager ‘bounce’ worked with Reds, to a man, serving up a display which generated an atmosphere at the ground not experienced for some time.  And to see so many smiling faces afterwards reminded us all of how good that winning feeling is on a Saturday night.

Barr’s team selection wasn’t one of wholesale changes but more an opportunity for those already in the dressing room to remind all of their credentials once confidence is restored.

And, after invaluable contributions from all over the pitch, the new manager may consider tweaking his shopping list.  He has already hinted at new arrivals in the coming weeks and did hand a debut to Tyler Magloire who had a ninety-minutes to remember.

Barr said he was happy to put Magloire ‘in the shop window’, a situation which would help Reds and the player in the short term.  He certainly looked a class above Step 3 football and was immediately accepted by an appreciative audience.

He actually won the sponsors accolade as man-of-the match but there was no shortage of contenders.

Reds have bemoaned their luck this season so a touch ironic that they opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute.  Hyde seemed in disarray for Josh Galloway’s corner enabling Jack Dickinson to arrive at the far post and head home his first goal for the club.

Galloway had sent a free-kick wide earlier, Dan Hopper saw a weak shot gathered by Yusuf Mersin and skipper Steven Rigg’s opportunist shot on the turn also drifted wide of the target.

Hyde hadn’t really threatened and Nyal Bell’s hooked volley was easily gathered by Alex Mitchell.

So, a routine first half, followed by a more eventful second.

Four minutes after the restart, Reds doubled their lead – scoring a second for the first time on home soil this season.  And I doubt there will be any goal greeted with such gusto as Hopper’s stunning header in front of a packed Town End Terrace.

He met Kai Nugent’s pin-point accurate cross from the left to plant the ball into Mersin’s net for his first goal in senior football and repeat the scoring feat of his late father, Tony, who had netted against Hyde twenty years ago.

Dan Hopper

Nugent, enjoying his best afternoon of the season, saw a goal-bound effort deflected over the bar soon after and was then involved in the most talked about incident of the game.

He combined well with Rigg and, after being put through on goal by the skipper’s perfect assist, was clattered by Mersin’s tackle just outside the area.  There were defenders in the vicinity but it was clearly a goal scoring opportunity and the referee had no other option than to show the giant ‘keeper a red card. 

With no recognised replacement on the bench, Harry Ditchfield was pressed into service and the makeshift goalkeeper pushed away Galloway’s free kick when play eventually restarted.

Down to ten men, very much second best at that point, two goals in arrears and clearly not seeing eye-to-eye with the man in black, Hyde, to their credit, suddenly came to life.

They were given hope when Lewis Rawsthorn forced home a goal from close range after Mitchell and Dickinson had blocked earlier efforts.

Tom Stephenson entered the fray and had two opportunities to restore Reds two-goal advantage but squandered both before the hosts did score a third.

Jordan Little, who had been outstanding defensively, ventured forward for a corner and looked to have scored with a downward header, via Nugent’s corner, but Rigg got the final touch to deflect the ball over the line.

Surely the points were in the bag, but not quite!  If Hopper’s goal was special, so too was Rawsthorn’s second – a wonderful volley left Mitchell helpless and made for a nerve-shredding last few minutes.

Rawsthorn then got under a great cross from the left and headed over the bar and, instead of celebrating a hat-trick and salvaging a point, it led to Reds hanging on for that elusive first home win of the season.

Poor defending and ill-discipline led to Hyde’s downfall but buoyant Workington were worthy winners, overall, and can look forward with optimism after what has been a challenging period.

Billy Barr

Workington: Mitchell, Atkinson, Dickinson, Casson, Little, Magloire, Galloway (Stephenson, 78), Ellis, Rigg, Nugent, Hopper (McCaragher, 70).  Substitutes – Leslie, McDonough, McGladdery (not used).

Hyde United: Mersin, Lloyd, Thompson (Harrop, 53), Pratt (Kershaw, 70), Duxbury, Hall, Scanlon (Makoli, 86), Fearnley (Jones-Griffiths, 86), Bell (Ditchfield, 60), Redshaw, Rawsthorn.

Referee: Sam Ross

Bookings: Atkinson (Workington), Pratt, Redshaw, Bell, Fearnley, Hall (Hyde United)

Red cards: Mersin, Pratt (Hyde United)

Attendance: 869

Photos: Bret Thurlow