MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC U18 1-1 Spennymoor Town (6-5 pen)

The Young Reds made further progress in the FA Youth Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over Spennymoor.

Workington almost won the game in normal time but Alfie McDonough blasted wide from the spot after Harrison Telford had been impeded in the area.

That meant, after a cracking ninety minutes, the tie would be decided on penalties.

Ten wonderful penalties followed with Joe Douglas, netting the first, and Joe Carney, Oscar Pickering, Telford and Luke Routledge all following his perfect example.

But Spennymoor’s Rory Nelson, Fin Wake, Ethan Docherty, Will Delderfield and Ethan Peverell all converted their spot-kicks too, and in some style, to make it 5-5 ahead of a ‘sudden-death’ scenario.

McDonough then bravely stepped up to take the eleventh penalty of the shoot-out and redeemed himself by scoring, only for the unfortunate Ashton Robson to then put his effort over the bar – the consequences of which sent Workington through to the next round and another home tie v. Hartlepool United.

Spennymoor were quick out of the blocks and made an excellent start but Reds’ brave resilience kept them in the game.

One opening was halted by a perfectly timed Telford tackle, another effort went wide and Joe Rumney made a fine finger-tip save to deny Town the first goal.

And when Reds started to piece together moves in the opposite direction they did score first and a fine goal it was too. Jayden Fulton sent the ball into the box and McDonough’s sublime first touch and turn culminated in a firm shot, leaving George Havelock helpless in the twenty-fourth minute.

SIt took the wind out of Town’s sails but they did level four minutes before the break when Peverell was left free at the far post and he converted from close range.

Routledge had a fine shot from distance saved by Havelock and, when the visiting ‘keeper ventured out of his area to make a clearance, Carney almost scored with a spectacular long-range effort with the ball clipping the woodwork.

Then came the moment when McDonough missed from the spot as the game entered stoppage time.

He must have thought he had cost his side the chance of victory but the seventeen- year-old atoned for his error by calmly converting the winner in the dramatic shoot-out.

Elation for McDonough but we all empathise with the unfortunate Robson.

Workington: Rumney, Routledge, Charlie White, Jackson, Telford, Cueto, McDonough, Douglas, Carney, Fulton, Rogers. Substitutes – Amor, Pickering, Thomson, Liam White, Palmer, Roberts, Gaskell.

Spennymoor Town: Havelock, Wake, Carter Bell, O’Connor, McGinley, Peverell, Hughes, Griffiths, Docherty, Hewitt, Brandon. Substitutes – Nelson, Campbell-McGinn, Avery, Robson, Delderfield, Ethan Bell.

Referee: Ryan Woods

Bookings: Charlie White, Jackson, Telford, Liam White (Workington), Havelock, Carter Bell, McGinley, Wilson (Spennymoor Town)

Attendance: 132