Red ‘n buried in a set-piece shambles

Last updated 13:47, Monday, 25 August 2008

WORKINGTON’S proud record in Blue Square North against Blyth was undone in 45 minutes of sloppy play at Croft Park.

Consolation goal: Jonny Wright

Four previous games at this level had all been won by the Reds, and they hadn ’t conceded a goal in the process.

But that was all changed by half-time with Blyth three goals to the good and Workington staring down both barrels.

Once again it was Reds’ tendency to concede from set-piece situations which cost them dearly. Out of six goals leaked so far by the west Cumbrians in four League game, five have come from free kicks or corners.

It was an object lesson in chance taking, too, as Workington had their opportunities in the first half but couldn’t hit the target when chances presented themselves.

If the second-half was better from Workington’s point of view, the goal that could have hoisted them back into the contest, came far too late to have any serious effect on the outcome.

So Darren Edmondson and his side are still looking for their fir st win of nthe season, although there seems to be a determined mood in the camp to put things right on Monday at Borough Park against Burscough.

Blyth had won once at Croft Park, before suffering two narrow defeats on the road, and they certainly looked a better organised side than they were in the last two seasons when Reds completed Blue Square North doubles.

But like Reds they have a very small squad (only four substitutes) and the general feeling among the regulars is that they want to get as many points on the board as early as possible to avoid a scramble for survival in the second-half of the season.

The two are due to meet again at Borough Park on April 11 and at that late stage time would be running out if they were in a relegation battle.

There was an end-to-end feel about the game in the early stages, although it has to be said Spartans played the more constructive football while Workington looked to knock it long early.

The first chance did fall to Reds, however, when Johnny Wright held off a challenge in midfield from Gareth Williams but chose to shoot on the run and Mark Bell saved comfortably.

At least that effort was on target because Reds did set-up good shooting opportunities on four occasions in the first half but the shots were blazed over the bar. Craig Johnston (twice), Tony Hopper and Graham Anthony all fired well beyond the group of Workington fans congregated behind the goal.

The opening goal came on 15 minutes following a Blyth corner. Workington failed to deal with it properly and when it fell in the box was teed-up for Phil Bell who scored with a low drive past Adam Collin. Reds came closest to levelling through home centre-half Richard Pell. When Jonny Wright headed on a ball into the box Pell was rushing back towards goal and powered in a stunning header which his keeper Bell did superbly to tip over the bar.

As Reds continued to be wayward with their finishing, Blyth took full advantage with a second goal on 37 minutes.

Skipper Gareth Williams lifted the ball into the area where Anthony Hume, with a glancing header, got enough on it to take it beyond the diving Collin into the bottom corner.

Williams had scored direct from free kicks against Solihull and Telford in earlier matches and he made it three with a 45th minute stunner. He curled the free-kick round the Workington wall and past the stranded Collin.

He hadn’t ever scored before but has taken on free-kick duties this season and is now Blyth’s top goal-scorer.

Workington might have reduced the arrears in stoppage time but Anthony Wright saw a low drive hacked off the line by the stretching figure of goalkeeper Bell.

If they were to get back into the contest they needed a quick goal in the second-half and although Anthony Wright curled one effort just wide and Jonny Wright flashed one drive past the far post.

Substitute Shaun Vipond might have scored with his first touch, racing only a well placed pass from Jonny Wright but Bell saved at the second attempt.

There were also a couple of goalmouth scrambles when nobody could get in a telling blow and from a long way out it looked as though Reds were only going to get a consolation.

That came in the 77th minute after good work out on the left by Andrew Hardman, who looked bright and lively when he came on, to find Jonny Wright. He went round Bell and slotted the ball home from a narrow angle despite the best efforts of a covering defender on the line.

Workington had few alarms in the second-half, although Lee Andrews had to make a fine covering tackle to end a promising run from the lively Ged Dalton and Robbie Dale fired high over the bar after fashioning a chance for himself.

In the end a disappointing result for the Reds, who know they need to start picking-up the wins they will need to avoid an unseemly scramble at the back end of the season.

STAR MAN – Not many contenders and difficult but for his goal and general work-rate Jonny Wright.

Reds: Collin, McLuckie, Andrews, May, Kirkup, Johnston (Vipond 64), Anthony, Hopper, J. Wright, Robinson (Hardman 60), A. Wright (Arnison 75). Subs (not used) Rowntree, Hewson.