Struggling Workington are in a spot of bother
Last updated 11:15, Monday, 10 March 2008
THESE two sides have gone in opposite directions since Workington’s 5-0 win at Bower Fold in the FA Cup five months ago. They looked well-organised, confident and lively in the first-half when for, the most part, Reds were hanging on grittily to keep themselves in the contest.
Conference North: Stalybridge Celtic 3 Workington 0
For while Celtic have eked out a real chance of a promotion play-off spot, Reds have slipped the wrong way which demands furtive looks over the shoulder.
Although Stalybridge were clear winners in the end it was their clinical finishing in the closing stages which took them away from the Reds after the Cumbrians had made a better fist of things in the second-half.
Celtic, although the better side in the first-half against Workington opposition which posed few threats, could only turn round one goal to the good – and that from a dubious penalty.
The Reds improved considerably in the second-half, in direct comparison to the weather conditions, and were extremely unlucky not to be at least level or ahead before Stalybridge scored their crucial second.
But they were never going to come back from James Dean’s well-taken goal on 76 minutes and a third in the final minute of stoppage time from the lively Alex Meechan only added to Reds’ agony.
Stalybridge had looked – even when Reds beat them 1-0 early in the season under Tommy Cassidy at Borough Park – a side who had the capability of going all the way to the end of the season among the challengers.
That might not have looked likely after they crashed 5-0 to Reds in the FA Cup but since then they have strengthened, and looked certain to be where Workington were last season in the play-offs.
But Adam Collin made two smart stops; there was some committed defending from the men in front of him and with Celtic also guilty of some wayward finishing the teams were only divided by a dodgy penalty.
It came after 14 minutes after Reds failed to clear a right-wing corner. The ball bobbed around in the area without being cleared until both Celtic full-back Andrew Smart and Reds’ Andrew Wright both swung out for it at the same time.
There was a coming together, neither made contact with the ball and Smart went down in bigger heap than Wright – purely an accidental collision as happens from time to time in a game.
There was little chance of an away side being given a penalty from that situation. Gordon Johnson, however, the Ormskirk referee decided it had been a foul on Smart and awarded the spot kick.
Smart himself took the kick and sent Collin the wrong way to give Celtic the lead.
Reds had few attacking moments to savour in the first-half, probably the best being a shot from Matthew Berkeley which was always heading for the side-netting and a good move involving Craig Johnston, Wright and Dave Hewson deserving better than a loose final pass which was cleared in the Celtic area.
But the second-half, particularly the first 25 minutes was much better from Darren Edmondson’s men.
Wright, having his best game since returning from his second injury set-back, hit the post with Paddy Gamble beaten and also put another shot just wide after a clever, mazy run into the box.
Gamble did well to turn over a great shot from 25 yards by Graham Anthony; Berkeley shot inches past the far post after bursting through into the right-hand side of the box and later – between Stalybridge’s goals a cross shot from substitute Michael Reed was turned-away by Gamble at full stretch.
It was very much against the run of play when Stalybridge scored their second goal on 76 minutes.
Dean had only been on the field two minutes when he got in well to head home a cross from Meechan.
Then with virtually the last attack of the game Meechan, who had been a tricky customer all afternoon and a deserving winner of the Celtic man of the match award, scored the final goal.
After leaving Gari Rowntree in a heap he twisted onto his left foot from the right side of the box and curled a great shot beyond Collin into the far corner.
Reds will be holding a fans forum in the Social Club bar on Wednesday night at 7pm. Club chairman Humphrey Dobie and manager Darren Edmondson will be there to face questions from supporters.
match facts
STAR MAN: Anthony Wright – Looking stronger, fitter and fresher with every game now after his two unfortunate injury set-backs. Reds desperately need wide players who can go past the opposition and Wright is one who can fill that role when he’s back on song.
KEY MOMENT: Probably Celtic’s second goal on 76 minutes because up to that point in the second-half Reds had been the better side from the interval, and were unlucky to be still behind.
REDS: Collin, Andrews, Rowntree, Kirkup, Gray, Hewson (Hardman 86), Anthony, Hopper, Berkeley, C. Johnston (Reed 76), Wright. Subs (not used) R. Johnston, McLuckie, Taylor.
Crowd: 573
Referee: Gordon Johnson, Ormskirk
