MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 3-2 Warrington Rylands
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For the second successive home game, Reds recovered from a 2-0 deficit but, unlike the recent Guiseley fixture, they finished with a victory – their first in a competitive outing at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
And the victory they thoroughly deserved, was their first against Rylands at the ninth attempt.
Josh Palmer nodded home the match winning goal in the eighty-eighth minute and that completed a perfect comeback which looked highly unlikely just minutes into the second half.
At that point, they trailed to Rylands by two goals and the inconsistency which has plagued them all season was apparent once again. Reds had huffed and puffed but hadn’t really troubled Luke Pilling and his defensive colleagues and the Blues were comfortably protecting their one goal lead.
The opening goal came in the ninth minute via one simple move which the hosts should have defended better. Jawad Jebrin sent over a routine cross from the left, George Waring headed the ball back across goal and Ben Hardcastle converted with ease.
Dan Hopper headed over from one opportunity but his shot on target, soon after Rylands first, was the only time ‘keeper Pilling was called upon.
But a significant change happened towards the end of the first forty-five minutes. Waring and Matty Douglas were involved in an aerial challenge with the latter ending up on the turf.
Home supporters were demanding a red card for something that never happened but the referee did eventually send the Warrington number 9 off, for aiming a derogatory remark in Douglas’ direction.
Would this be an unexpected lifeline for Reds to get back into a contest in which they had been second best?
Well, apparently not. At least that was the situation five minutes after the restart.
Kai Nugent’s header forced Pilling into his first save of the evening but when Rylands countered soon after, Workington conceded a sloppy second.
Harrison Wood doubled their advantage and the home crowd was stunned into silence.
But the crowd, considerably down on average, came to life after Nugent reduced the arrears in the sixty-fourth minute. Douglas’ intelligent pull-back found Nugent and the effervescent number 10 rifled the ball past Pilling with his less favoured right foot.
If that goal lifted spirits in the Workington camp, the one they netted five minutes later revived hope and swung the game in their favour.
Jake Allan had been tripped in the ‘D’ and Isaac Whitehall stepped up to majestically bag his maiden league goal for the club, via the subsequent free-kick.
Rylands had been calm and composed to that point but they lost their discipline somewhat and, ultimately, that proved costly.
Palmer, yet to start a game this term, was introduced to the fray as a late substitute and was in the right place, at the right time to score minutes after coming on to the pitch.
Workington managed the final few minutes of the action but Rylands’ red mist descended again, when Hardcastle was sent off just before the end.
The evening for Hardcastle, and Rylands, began well but ended in total frustration.
Workington: Mitchell, Barnes, Casson, Whitehall, Douglas, Allan (Grayson, 79), Hopper (Stephenson, 51), Carroll, Dickenson, Nugent (Rigby, 90), Hunter (Palmer, 85). Substitute – Thomson (not used).
Warrington Rylands: Pilling, Smith, Gamble, Riley, Hall, Caddick (Costello, 73), Wood, Munro, Waring, Jebrin (Whaite, 51), Hardcastle. Substitutes – Burton, Holder, Whaite (not used).
Referee: Alex Beckett, Blackpool
Bookings: Allan, Barnes (Workington), Wood, Whaite (Warrington Rylands).
Red cards: Waring, Hardcastle (Warrington Rylands)
Attendance: 638
