MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC U18 4-4 Burscough FC U18

The young Reds dropped their first points of the season in what was the typical ‘game of two halves’!

They were comfortably 3-1 ahead at the break, then led 4-2, but allowed the visitors to salvage a point with two late goals.

Alfie McDonough netted twice in the opening eight minutes – the first a fine left-footed finish from an angle, and the second, a firm close-range header via a corner.  Both assists came from Harrison Rogers.

Burscough reduced the arrears with a Matthew Beswick goal following a goal mouth scramble but Reds restored their two-goal cushion before the interval.  McDonough turned provider on this occasion with his free-kick into the Burscough box neatly converted by Jayden Fulton.

The ‘Greens’ capitalised on some poor defending and a wayward back pass resulted in the visitors scoring their second of the afternoon.

Back came Reds with TJ Cueto scoring a rare goal to make it 4-2, with most assuming it was job done!

Burscough had other ideas, however, and scored twice late in the game to salvage a deserved point. The third, following a free-kick from out wide, and the eighth goal of the afternoon after some sloppy defending by the home side in their own area.

It could have been worse had it not been for a brilliant Joe Rumney save which prevented Burscough taking all three points back down the M6!

Reds had beaten their opponents comfortably away but fell away in the second half of the return, after a dominant first half display.

Lead coach, Conor Cooke, said, “We were punished for repeated sloppiness in defence and individual errors against a spirited Burscough side.”

Next week they host Marine (Lakes College, 12:15 ko)    

Team: Joe Rumney, Luke Routledge, Matthew Jackson, Joe Douglas, Charlie White, TJ Cueto, Ryan Handford, Ted Thomson, Oscar Pickering, Alfie McDonough, Harrison Rogers.  Substitutes – Liam White, Jayden Fulton (both used)