Reds at the double as they dispose of Hyde
Last updated 12:13, Monday, 07 April 2008
Hyde Utd 1 Workington Reds2 : Workington completed a quick double over former Blue Square North leaders Hyde to make-up for the disappointment of a midweek home defeat.
As they had done in the second-half of the first game at Borough Park, Workington were positive, vibrant, busy and effective – but for most of the 90 minutes this time.
There was only a short spell just before half-time, after they had equalised, that Hyde asked any leading questions of the Workington defence.
But goalkeeper Adam Collin was never seriously tested. Apart from the effort that led to the Hyde goal he did not have a shot to save.
That was testamenet, not only to the solid work of the back four, but also to the covering, chasing and harrassing done by the midfielders.
Encouragingly the team work ethic was picked-up by strikers Jonny Wright and Michael Reed who were constantly on the move, defending from the front.
Interestingly, the statisticians will point to the fact that Wright and Reed have now played 11 times together as the strike-pair – Reds have won seven of therm, drawn three and lost only once.
More to the point Wright has scored seven while Reed has notched six goals when used as a pair, and they were both on target at Ewen Fields.
Wright, who has had an excellent first season in the Blue Square North, has been stuck on 13 goals for a while now, so he was particularly relieved to find the net against Hyde.
Indeed the former Whitehaven Amateurs sharp-shooter could have had a first-half hat-trick but for the acrobatics of eccentric Cameroon goalkeeper Jean-Paul Ndjebayi
He only arrived seven minutes before kick-off, after being held-up in Grand National traffic, and Hyde were starting to sweat as the only other goalkeeper available – Craig Dootson was down with gastroenteritis.
He is clearly an eye-catching shot-stopper, but prone to gaffes when he has to use his feet, and there were several occasions when first time clearances were mis-hit, and even included one air-shot!
But he did poduce two very good saves to deny Wright his hat-trick after he had opened the scoring for Reds on 19 minutes.
The goal first. It was nicely created, if a bit scrambled in its execution, with Graham Anthony threading the ball into the box and a nice flick by Reed finding Wright.
He somehow managed to force the ball into the net from a tight angle with Ndjebayi getting a hand on it but unable to deny Wright his 14th goal of the season.
On the half-hour a fine Workington build-up released Wright on the right-side of the box and a fierce low shot was blocked by the flayling legs of the home keeper.
A minute later Wright got on the end of a left wing cross and this time Ndjebayi flung himself across goal to turn the ball behind with a brilliant one-handed save.
One particular passage of play, in which Reds had pinged the ball around in one-touch fashion, resulted in a cross from substitute Craig Johnston being turned behind for a corner. The warm applause from the Hyde fans was for the Reds football rather than the timely interception. It was completely against the run of play when Hyde drew level on 34 minutes.
The ball was switched quickly from right to left and Nick Clee was left with a clear run at goal.
Collin did well to get down to block the shot but he couldn’t hold on and Matthew Tipton arrived to lift the ball over the stranded keeper.
Although Kyle May was back on the line to head away the referee’s assistant was well-positioned to flag a goal.
Although Hyde had a flurry of possession and attacks up to half-time there were no anxious moments for Collin and co.
Within a minute of the restart Workington were back in front. Lee Andrews and Johnston linked down the right and a ball over the top released Reed in his favourite inside right channel.
He held-off the challenge of David Morley before crashing a great shot on the run beyond Ndjebayi into the far bottom corner.
Ndjebayi did well to turn over headers from Jonny Wright and Anthony Wright or Workingtoin could have been home and hosed before Comply or Die!
A good afternoon’s work included a successful return from injury for defender Kyle May who looked as solid as ever along Dan Kirkup, who is growing in confidence match by match.
MATCH FACTS
Reds: Collin, Andrews, Rowntree, May, Kirkup, Hewson (Johnston 31), Anthony, Hopper, Reed (Berkeley 81), J. Wright, A. Wright. Subs (not used): Gray, McLuckie, Taylor.
KEY MOMENT: Michael Reed’s 46th minute goal to restore Workington’s lead after Hyde had levelled before half-time against the run of play.
Referee: Ian Edwards (Liverpool)
Crowd: 302
STAR MAN: JONNY WRIGHT – Has played well despite a goal-glut recently but has finally got off the 13-mark.
