Last updated at 14:24, Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Workington Reds 2 Vauxhall Motors 1: A half-time rocket from boss Darren Edmondson inspired Workington Reds to a disjointed 2-1 win over Vauxhall.

Matty Tymon

Edmondson laid down the law to his underperforming stars at the break, which led to a gritty win thanks to goals from Jonny Wright and Shaun Vipond.

Both players netted their third goals of the season as a new-look Reds side took advantage of some sloppy Vauxhall defending.

Out went the suspended David Hewson and Alex White with Lee Andrews and Adam Main making their first starts of the season.

Edmondson described his side’s performance as “stuttering” and “bitty” and Reds lumbered to the win.

The Borough Park club found it difficult to break a stubborn Vauxhall side down, which led to a long-ball game being deployed by Edmo’s Army.

Goalless Gareth Arnison almost broke his duck for the season with a brilliant lob from a tight angle. Unfortunately, the striker’s effort fell the wrong side of the bar and sailed out for a goal kick.

Phil McLuckie was next to test the Vauxhall defence but he couldn’t divert Wright’s searching cross and the ball went over.

Vauxhall came to west Cumbria with a game plan designed to frustrate Workington but almost took the lead on 16 minutes when the pacey Obi Anoruo turned sharply and fired goalwards.

The ball travelled past a couple of bodies before deflecting for a corner.

Midway through the half, Wright felt aggrieved after his goal-bound shot was blocked en route to the back of the net by a Vauxhall hand.

Despite his impassioned pleas, referee Paul Marsden waved away the appeals.

Vauxhall had little possession but had a glorious chance to take the lead with half-time fast approaching.

A whipped corner fell to the feet of unmarked centre back Rob Marsh-Evans but his first-time effort was fluffed and Reds cleared the danger.

Workington almost ended the half on a high but Wright’s back-heal flick ballooned over the bar.

Edmondson and assistant Viv Busby used some choice words with the squad during the break and

Gari Rowntree set off on a winding run down the left before finding the feet of Wright, who played a neat one-two with McLuckie.

When the ball came back to the striker, his first-time effort flew off his right boot into the far corner.

The goal spurred Reds into life and they almost doubled their lead on the 70-minute mark but Arnison’s long-range effort just went past the angle of post and bar.

Vauxhall had keeper Scott Tynan to thank for keeping the score down seven minutes later when he pulled off a world-class save to deny McLuckie.

The midfielder has been in great form this term but found his 12-yard shot brilliantly saved by Tynan, who had hurled himself to his left.

Reds inability to finish off their chances cost them three minutes later when the fleet-of-foot Anoruo raced past Kyle May and Lee Andrews to slot home the equaliser.

Workington were caught by a long ball from Neil Prince, who sent Anoruo away. The striker took the ball in his stride and gave Aaran Taylor no chance with the finish.

It looked as though the match would lumber to a 1-1 draw until Vipond popped up four minutes from time to head the winner.

Andy Langford’s deep cross from the right beat the tall central defenders and landed perfectly on Vipond’s head.

He angled the ball to back from where it came and a hapless Tynan could do nothing but watch it nestle in the bottom corner.

Workington: Taylor, Langford, Rowntree, May, Andrews, Vipond, McLuckie, Main (Tymon 85), J.Wright, Arnison, A.Wright (Tinnion 73). Subs not used: Hindmarch, White, Blake.

Attendance: 707

Star man: Shaun Vipond’s last gasp goal capped off a tenacious display from the midfielder. Vipond has come into his own this year, playing with confidence and finding the net on a regular basis.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk