Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 21 August 2008

WORKINGTON reserves crashed to an 8-0 defeat in their opening Lancashire League game.

But 13 of the 14 players used at Burscough were making their debuts in a re-shaped Workington side.

Burscough, by comparison, used their first team goalkeeper and the five players who were on the bench for their 1-0 Blue Square North win at Hyde.

Reserve team boss Herbert Briggs said: “In many ways we are back to where we were three years ago, starting from scratch and building a team. That finished with us winning the league last season.

“Everybody will want to beat us now as we are the defending champions, even though the team is virtually a new one because of what’s happened.

“We were 4-0 down at half-time but if it had been 6-4 to them it might have been a fairer reflection on where the chances went.

“Martin Coleman and Steffan Scott both had a couple of opportunities which could have got us on the scoreboard.

“Although 8-0 was a bad scoreline for us there were some good performances. I thought Adam Maine had an excellent game in midfield and Steffan Scott did well up-front.

“It is going to take a bit of time for the players to gel because we are going to be one of the youngest teams in the league.”