Image courtesy of Telegraph and Argus.
Manager Steve Kittrick stated on Saturday that Workington would be a difficult team to beat and so it proved at Nethermoor this afternoon with substitute Jake Lawlor’s header six minutes into added time proving to be the difference between the two teams.
The preceding ninety minutes had been largely forgettable with little flair or quality on show from either team.
Lacking captain Andy Holdsworth through illness, youngster Jake Scott started in midfield and he was soon in action clearing Josef Jackson’s header off the line. However, the visitors had Newcastle United loanee Jonathan Mitchell to thank for keeping out Phil Marsh’s header from Rhys Meynell’s cross midway through what the first half.
The second half improved marginally and the Reds should have taken the lead but Jackson somehow screwed his shot wide from six yards out. Jameel Ible had a goalbound header blocked in the six-yard box and when Adam Priestley replaced Marsh he was only denied the chance to score from Gavin Rothery’s astute through ball by the reactions of Mitchell.
Once again the visitors spurned a golden opportunity when Stephen Hindmarch found himself in a one-on-one with Steve Drench but he seemed caught in two minds and the chance was lost. The lively Priestley then let loose a half volley which Mitchell did well to turn round the post and the Lions striker was just a whisker away shortly after as his drive from twenty yards went just the wrong side of the upright.
With the game seemingly heading for a goalless draw, the Lions were awarded a throw in on the left from which Jack Rea found the head of Danny Ellis only for a visiting defender to clear it to Priestley on the left flank.
He promptly chipped the ball back in which Ellis, at the near post, directed across the six yard box where Lawlor was on hand to nod in the winner leaving Workington just enough time to restart the game before the final whistle blew.
Steve Kittrick post match interview
Jake Lawlors thoughts on this afternoons win
Team:
1–Drench
2-Rea
3-Meynell
4-Scott (Lawlor 72)
5-Ellis
6-Ible
7-Brooksby
8-Potts
9-Hobson (Burgess 62)
10-Marsh (Priestley 62)
11-Rothery
12- Priestley
14- Burgess
15-Harris
16-Lawlor 90+6
18-Montgomery