Super Reds give play-off hopefuls a good Hyde-ing
Last updated 13:12, Wednesday, 12 March 2008
ON a night when people from Workington to Whitehaven were advised not to leave their homes the Reds brewed their own kind of storm.
Conference North: Workington 2-0 Hyde United
They produced the kind of performance - particularly in the second-half - which made nonsense of their Blue Square North slump.
Opponents Hyde United are still in with a shout of making the promotion play-offs but perhaps the severe weather warning should have been directed their way in light of Workington’s storming display.
The second-half last night compared with the best efforts from last season which propelled the team to the play-offs, but which we have seen all too rarely this time round.
When Workington work hard to close down the opposition, defend tenaciously as a unit and attack with skill, pace and purpose they are as good as anything the Blue Square North has to offer.
If manager Darren Edmondson could bottle what was on show last night and release it every match-day, Reds’ surge up the table over the last dozen games would be a formality.
“It was great but showed just what this team is capable of when they are playing with confidence. They are an honest group of players who think about their performances and I know this result will have done them a power of good,” he said.
Back at Christmas Hyde were going best of all, top of the League and flying, but it’s been downhill since then and where automatic promotion was once the aim, scrambling into the play-offs is the lingering target.
For Edmondson and his rejuvenated Workington side a place in the top half of the table has to be the goal – and on what we saw at Borough Park last night that is an achievable one.
There were few indications of how good the second-half was to be, for the opening period was fairly even. Reds had more territory and possession, without really testing keeper Craig Dootson.
The two real goal-mouth incidents of note were both defended by Reds. The first saw keeper Adam Collin make an excellent low block to keep out a shot from Matthew Tipton.
But it was a close call midway through the half when a shot from Chris Simm looped-up and struck the angle of post and bar before dropping invitingly in front of goal. Fortunately Collin was alert to it and made the smothered save before any Hyde player could get close.
The second-half belonged almost exclusively to Reds and Collin didn’t have another save to make.
Right from the opening minute when Matthew Berkeley broke through to steer a shot wide of Dootson but beyond the post Reds imposed themselves on the opposition.
Berkeley was central to the performance, giving a contrasting performance to his hesitant, sometimes laboured efforts earlier.
He looked dangerous whenever he got the ball, running with gusto at the Hyde defenders and showing why Bury had expressed an interest after the FA Cup-tie in November.
Chris Brass, on the Bury staff when that approach was made, had a first-hand view of what Berkeley at his best has to offer, as he was in the Hyde line-up.
The break-through goal came on 60 minutes when Anthony Wright drove down the left-hand side and played the ball in to Johnny Wright with his back to goal. The home striker was under pressure but somehow got the ball and new skipper Graham Anthony hammered in a shot from 25 yards which flew past Dootson.
Now whether the Hyde keeper had been unsighted by his crowded goal-mouth or had misjudged the flight of the ball he made little attempt to save which brought some anguished looks from his team-mates.
Two minutes later Workington had doubled their lead. Berkeley ran strongly at the Hyde defence and then laid-off a ball which appeared to have too much on it.
But Dave Hewson never faltered, refused to give it up and kept on running to get there ahead of Dootson and fire past him into the far corner.
With Anthony prompting, Anthony Wright grafting, Jonny Wright linking and Berkeley sprinting there were a series of Workington attacks which had Hyde defending desperately.
Anthony hit the bar; Berkeley had an angled drive blocked by Dootson and shots from Hewson and Jonny Wright weren’t far wide.
On the eve of a fans forum at Borough Park tonight (7pm) it was a timely reminder of what Reds are capable of and might deflect some of the anticipated flak.
MATCH FACTS
STAR MAN: The sponsors chose Matthew Berkeley for a terrific second-half display but over the 90 minute piece ANTHONY WRIGHT was outstanding. He’s starting to show now what Reds have missed since his injury problems began. However, there wasn’t a weak performance on this occasion - a great team effort.
KEY MOMENT: Has to be the first goal from GRAHAM ANTHONY which gave Reds the lift they needed to set-up a crucial but thoroughly deserved victory.
Reds: Collin, Andrews, Rowntree, Gray, Kirkup, Hewson, Anthony, Hopper, Berkeley (Reed 86), J. Wright, A. Wright (Johnston 86). Subs (not used) McLuckie, Hardman, Taylor.
Crowd: 240
Referee: Steve Oldham, Blackpool
