MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 8-1 Whitehaven AFC

Reds cantered through to the Third Round of the Cumberland Cup, at the expense of beleaguered Whitehaven, in what was nothing more than a glorified training session.

Both teams went into the game without a permanent manager but whilst Reds were in the capable hands of Brian Dawson and Billy Redden, the West Lancashire League outfit had to rely on guidance from the inexperienced Matty Branthwaite.

It looked a mis-match on paper when the respective team sheets were handed in and so it proved on grass with Workington dominating for much of the game.

Yet they were lucky to survive an early penalty appeal when Robbie Swinburn was grounded rather forcefully inside the area.

Dav Symington opened the scoring in the eighteenth minute and it was an uphill task for Haven thereafter.

Symington’s low shot flew past Aaron Carter and went in via the foot of the post.

Brad Harrison’s unfortunate own-goal doubled Reds’ advantage seven minutes later and the floodgates opened soon after with Symington and Steven Rigg combining to great effect.

Symington netted the third (30) and sixth goals (45) with explosive finishes and Rigg (33 and 42) joined him on the score sheet with a clever first-time finish followed by a turn and firmly struck shot to leave Haven well beaten before the break.

The second half was always going to be an anti-climax in comparison with Reds soft-pedalling for forty-five minutes and Whitehaven restoring a modicum of pride with a gallant, gritty display.

But Reds did net a seventh goal just three minutes after the restart when Lewis Keeler deflected the ball past Carter for a second own-goal.

Whitehaven were worthy of some reward after showing plenty of character after the break and they got their consolation goal five minutes before the end.

A neatly worked free-kick saw Aidan Smith release Joe Martin who found enough time and space to guide the ball past Danny Eccles.

That goal was probably the kick-up the backside Reds needed and they responded with the game’s ninth goal shortly after, with Symington rifling the ball past Carter from an acute angle for his fourth of the evening.

It was man-of-the-match Symington’s first County Cup hat-trick and matched the scoring feats of Sam Joel and Reuben Jerome who contributed with four-goal blasts against Whitehaven in 2017 and 2021 respectively.

David Symington

We know all about the qualities of Rigg and Symington, both of whom have been fantastic servants to Reds in recent years, but this tie provided an opportunity for Harrison Telford, Alfie McDonough, Josh Palmer and Joe Carney to enhance their growing reputations and the quartet all responded positively.

Dawson and Redden were able to give much needed game time to several players who haven’t featured a lot recently as well as resting Jordan Little, Keelan Leslie, Ceiran Casson and Alex Mitchell.

Both clubs will be hoping to announce a new manager in the near future and, in both cases, the sooner, the better!

Workington: Eccles, Stephenson (Carney, 46), McCaragher, Barnes, Telford, Swinglehurst (Dickinson, 79), Symington, McGladdery, Rigg (Palmer, 46), Ellis, Nugent (McDonough, 46).

Whitehaven: Carter, Wright, Smith, Keeler, Harrison, Hodgson, Mackay, Martin T, Swinburn, Powell, Knowles. Substitutes – Kitchen, Clarke, Starkey, King, Martin J.

Referee: Leigh Musgrave, Workington

Bookings: McDonough, Galloway (Workington)

Attendance: 209