Last updated at 17:32, Wednesday, 17 November 2010

AFC Telford 1 Workington Reds 0: The patient is improving but the complete cure has still not been achieved for recent ills!

Shaun Vipond

Workington’s losing sequence in Blue Square Bet North was stretched to six games at the New Bucks Stadium last night, even though they matched their hosts in nearly all aspects of the game.

But, just as it was at home to Guiseley and at Corby on Saturday, the crucial requirement of putting the ball into the net condemned the Reds to another narrow defeat.

Reds’ goal drought has covered all six losing games and you have to go back to September 18 to find the last time Workington scored in league action.

Darren Edmondson’s men just can’t buy a goal at present, despite several commendable efforts against AFC Telford.

By contrast the home side could only manage three serious strikes at goal themselves, yet one of them found the net to earn all three points.

It was a messy finish in the 56th minute which settled the contest. Derby County loanee Greg Mills, who shone all night with his pacey bursts down the left flank, again caused the problems.

He got round Andy Langford and his deep cross was headed back into the mix from beyond the far post by Jon Adams.

Workington seemed to have enough bodies there to cope but from close range Adam Proudlock somehow managed to steer the ball home with the help of a couple of deflections.

The goal apart, Telford’s only other serious strikes came late in the game when Aaran Taylor flew across goal to parry the ball and Langford completed the clearance while Phil Trainer saw an angled header run across the bar and then behind.

Workington did their best work in the first-half and at the interval had shaded the contest, although had nothing to prove that.

Looking solid in defence, busy in midfield and adventurous in attack Reds could have easily turned round two or three goals to the good.

Shaun Vipond, who started the season so well but has laboured since his foot injury, was outstanding in the first-half – tackling, probing and eager for work – back to his best.

He had the two best strikes at goal. The first a dipping volley from 25 yards which had home keeper Ryan Young at full stretch to parry and then rely on a defender clearing.

Then another thunderbolt from a little further out was fortuitously blocked by the keeper’s chest, although he knew little about it. This time the ball rebounded to the edge of the area and again was cleared.

It was Vipond who provided the right-wing corner which saw Ryan Bowman whip in a brilliant header that flew just over the bar.

No criticism can be levelled at the Reds’ appetite for work and at times they played some good, controlled football. But where they appear to be lacking in confidence is in the penalty area with not enough desire to gamble and get in where it matters to pick-up the pieces.

Never mind the 30-yard screamers which fly into the top corner, the best goals are always the ones in the last 10 yards after a ball has been blocked or come back off the woodwork and a poacher’s instincts are needed.

There was one clear example in the second half when Anthony Wright tossed a ball into the box from deep and Jonny Wright rose to win it well and head down invitingly into space. There just wasn’t anyone there to feed off the knock down and a golden opportunity was lost.

Workington weren’t as creative in the second half, and didn’t fashion the opportunities that had come earlier.

Gareth Arnison took on a free kick a few yards outside the penalty area but fired well over the bar, while with virtually the last kick of the game Stephen Hindmarch fired one on the run from the angle of the box but Young held comfortably on his knees.

Reds take a break from league fare on Saturday when Chasetown – who were represented last night – visit in the FA Trophy. The Evostik Premier League opposition will provide the west Cumbrians with a chance to kick-start their faltering season.

Reds: Taylor, Langford, A. Wright, May, Andrews, Vipond, Arnison, Hewson (Main), J. Wright (Smith), Bowman (Tymon), Hindmarch. Subs (not used) White, Tinnion.

Referee: Robert Jones, Wirral

Crowd: 1,438

Star man: Shaun Vipond - Back to his best, particularly in the first-half when he set the tempo for another decent Workington performance.

First published at 11:38, Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk