MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC U18 1-3 Hartlepool United U18

The young Reds were faced with two doughty opponents at Borough Park – a slick Hartlepool United side and the atrocious weather.

They battled gamely against the horizontal rain and strong wind but just fell short against a polished ‘Pools’ side who achieved what their seniors couldn’t do twenty-four hours earlier – a win in Cumbria!

Hartlepool’s National League fixture at Brunton Park had resulted in a 3-1 defeat but their U18s won, by the same score, in the FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying round tie.

Credit to both teams and the officials for serving up a decent game in testing conditions with four cracking goals and some fine individual performances keeping the sparse crowd entertained.

Kian Foreman would emerge as one of several talented players on the night and looked a certain scorer in the early stages until he was thwarted by a fine save from Reds’ ‘keeper, Joe Rumney.

And Rumney was in action again soon after when he comfortably gathered a firmly struck Lewis Standing shot from distance.

But it was Reds who opened the scoring after eighteen minutes with Alfie McDonough adding to his already impressive credentials in the competition. He won a free-kick just outside the area then fired the ball past a helpless Harry Conyard from twenty yards – a goal every bit as good as any in the Symington portfolio!

Neither side were creating many clear-cut chances but Hartlepool restored parity after a well taken solo effort from Julious Hounsell just before the half hour mark.

He collected the ball wide on the left, chopped inside and found the net with a firm low strike.

It was all square at the break with Reds, ‘Pools and the weather all on an equal footing.

As expected, Hartlepool stepped up a gear in the second half and gallant Reds found it difficult to keep possession.

Within eleven minutes of the restart, the visitors got their noses in front with another quality goal. Foreman had been involved in the build-up but Charlie Thornton earned the plaudits with a superbly struck effort which left Rumney helpless.

And the same two players combined for United’s third goal seven minutes from time with Foreman crossing with precision from the left and Thornton converting with a sublime, one-touch finish.

Luke Routledge and Joe Douglas narrowly missed the target with decent efforts at goal and Joe Carney had forced Conyard into a good save earlier and, overall, Reds gave another good account of themselves against higher-ranked opponents.

Workington: Rumney, Routledge, White C (Palmer, 82), Jackson, Telford, Cueto T (Amor, 69), McDonough, Douglas, Carney, Fulton (Roberts, 62), Rogers (Pickering, 69). Substitutes – Thomson, White L, Gaskell (not used).

Hartlepool United: Conyard, Niven, Standing, Wood, Daines, Gilbraith, Foreman, Penprase, Hounsell, Thornton, Josiah. Substitutes – Rukin, Worth, Whitfield, Basiru, Talbot, Hood, Khrystenko.

Referee: Michael Studholme

Booking: Carney (Workington)

Attendance: 76