MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC U23 1-1 Kendal Town U23
A mixture of good, bad and indifferent sums up the Young Reds latest Lancashire League outing in the first Cumbrian derby of the season.
Reds were well on top throughout a first half they dominated, lost their way a bit after the interval yet will regret gifting a decent Town side outfit a sloppy equaliser.
In a match-up of the 2025 West Division champions (Town) and last season’s winners (Reds), there was plenty of talented players on display in what is an important period of their development.
In Workington’s case, some have had a brief taste of first team involvement and there are others who have the potential to do so.
Reds had the ball in the Kendal net twice in the opening few minutes but both ‘goals’ were rightly disallowed for hand ball and offside in the build-up. But they also squandered several decent chances with Oscar Pickering going close on three occasions and Keenan Mackay twice testing the ‘keeper.
The opening goal came in the fortieth minute and Pickering’s positive running created the chance. His low cross into the box was met by Ben Whitworth who confidently netted his first goal for the club.
Town began to get a foothold in the game upon the restart and Joe Rumney had to deal with an early free-kick, powerfully struck by Piotr Czechura and the latter saw another effort, from distance, go narrowly wide late in the game.
Reds attacked smoothly in the first half but getting forward seemed more laboured after the break, although Alistar Wilson and Pickering went close to grabbing a second.
In between, though, Town levelled matters in the seventy-first minute. A defensive error was punished and Max Townley accepted the gift to send the ball past Rumney from the edge of the box.
And Rumney was certainly the busier ‘keeper in the later stages, making one brave stop on the line which proved crucial.
It finished all square, which was probably the right outcome.
Workington: Rumney, Gaskell, Bell, Johnston, Cannon (Wilson, 55), Douglas, Routledge (Devoy, 46), Mackay, Pickering O, Whitworth, Henney (Elliott, 55).
Kendal Town: Cumberland, Morris, Thornley, Ehiagwina, Caulfield, Clarkson, Metcalfe, Czechura, Jackson, Miller, Oundo. Substitutes – Lanaway, Townley, Dawson, Nicholson, Coates (all used).
Referee: Paul McDermott
Booking: Pickering (Workington)
