Last updated at 10:36, Monday, 27 August 2012

Halifax 5 Workington Reds 1: It was always going to be a tough start for Workington Reds this season as they faced up to some of the bookies’ best fancies for the Blue Square North title.

Gareth Arnison

A heartening 4-1 win over Stalybridge and a spirited 1-0 defeat in front of 3,000 at Chester, suggested the west Cumbrians might be capable of upsetting a few.

But Darren Edmondson’s men received a severe reality check at the Shay, slumping to a heavy defeat against a Halifax side determined to make amends for their midweek home defeat.

In a nutshell Reds’ loss was down to some poor defending and an inability to take chances at vital times in the game.

There were a few isolated patches when Reds knocked the ball around well and looked at ease with themselves but all too-often they looked fragile in defence as Halifax grew in confidence.

But the finger could be pointed at both ends of the pitch as both Gareth Arnison and Jonny Wright missed great chances at important moments.

Arnison had put Reds level within a minute of Halifax taking the lead but then two minutes later was wasteful when presented with a great chance to put his side in front.

Mark Sloan had fed Wright, and a perfect lay-off ball inside sent Arnison clear. But the shot was poor, tamely struck and straight at former Carlisle keeper Matty Glennon.

Halifax then proceeded to punish Workington further with two more goals which took them into the break 3-1 to the good.

Unhappily for Reds they could not take another excellent chance two minutes after the restart. Chris Wraigthe teed-up Wright but from eight yards he completely miscued and his shot went well side.

When Halifax scored two further goals there was no way back for the Cumbrians and two late efforts from Arnison and Callum Hassan, onto the roof of the net and into the side netting respectively, would only have been a minor statistical alteration to the decisive scoreline.

Beaten 1-0 at home on Tuesday by Colwyn Bay, and with their fans uneasy, it wasn’t a confident start by the Shaymen, so Workington appeared to have settled best.

But it was Halifax who took the lead on 25 minutes. A clever one-two between Lee Gregory and Dale Johnson ended with the latter dinking the ball over Aaran Taylor after the keeper had done well to block his first effort..

Workington hit back immediately as Sloan and Wright linked down the left and a low, teasing cross was cleverly flicked in off the post by Arnison.

Then came Arnison’s miss which became even more significant on 31 minutes when Halifax regained the lead. A defensive header from Kyle May looped behind him and as he and Taylor seemed to pause Gareth Seddon nipped in and knocked the ball round the keeper before firing home.

Taylor made an important one handed save to turn a Seddon shot over the bar but five minutes before the break he could do nothing as a cross to the far post saw Seddon rise unchallenged to head home.

Edmondson and his assistant Tony Elliott had stressed at half-time that a quick goal would put Reds back in the contest, so it was especially galling to the management pair to see Wright miss that early chance.

To make matters worse Halifax made it 4-1 on 52 minutes. Taylor had made a brilliant save to deny Jamie Rainford but this time he was helpless as the substitute drove home off a Workington defender from 12 yards.

Reds agony was complete on 76 minutes when Gregory headed in at the near post following a right wing corner.

Jake Simpson brought Glennon to his knees to make a save in the closing stages after Arnison and Hassan had gone close, but by then Workington were a well beaten side.

If there were some positives to take out the of the debris Edmondson will look at the contributions of three of his new young men.

Tranmere midfielder Will Vaulks was tide and busy throughout on his first start; Macclesfield centre-half James Bolton emerged with some credit, despite the scoreline and there were some eye-catching contributions from his fellow loanee and team-mate Andre Rodrigues de Costa.

He does seem to have a trick or two and could be an interesting addition to the squad, whether he’s played wide or in the hole behind the main striker.

But for the whole squad it doesn’t get any easier. Guiseley, who are top with three wins from as many games, are the visitors to Borough Park.

Halifax: Glennon, Toulson, St Juste, Hogan, Jarrett (Needham 73), Lowe, Worsley (Worthington 86), Marshall, Johnson (Rainford 45), Gregory, Seddon. Subs (not used):Senior, Qualter

Workington Reds: Taylor, Cowperthwaite, Rowntree, May, Bolton Boyd, Sloan (Simpson 58), Vaul;ks, Wright (Hassan 68), Arnison, Wraighte (Da Costa 60). Subs(not used): Todd, Scott

Attendance: 1,167

Referee: Alf Greenwood (York)

Star man: WIll Vaulks - worked well throughout, tidy on the ball and already buying into the team ethic

First published at 09:52, Monday, 27 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk