Last updated at 17:03, Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Farsley Celtic 3 Workington 1: The Setanta Shield tie at the Throstle’s Nest offered Workington the chance of a much-needed boost in confidence and the club’s bank balance.

In the end they got neither as Celtic were the side that bounced back from a home defeat on Saturday – and also pocketed £2,000 from the tie.

From the Workington point of view it was an improvement on the dismal 1-0 defeat to Redditch – but only marginally.

Manager Darren Edmondson ended the game with all three of his senior players back on the pitch, but throughout there was still the lack of hunger, work-rate and desire which has served Reds best in the past.

They were the essential ingredients for all the best performances last season’s under Edmondson’s leadership and also for the ones under Tommy Cassidy’s long watch.

The inconsistencies are the frustrating part of non-league management for Edmondson as he explained afterwards.

He said: “These two poor displays have come on the back of three very good efforts – particularly the two performances at Alfreton and Droylsden.

“A good, three-match unbeaten run looked as though it would be the springboard to push us forward but since then we’ve had these two major set-backs.

“A team should want to win every game they play – whether it’s a friendly, a Cup match or a League fixture. I’m afraid the last two efforts have been flat compared to what we saw from them earlier.”

Farsley, playing in Blue Square Premier last season, had gone into the game on the back of a 3-2 home defeat by Stalybridge after they had built a 2-1 lead.

They were in the same position last night by half-time but this time they held-on and scored the crucial killer third goal seven minutes from time.

Workington conceded three poor goals – none of them from set-pieces – but all from situations which should have been prevented.

Farsley broke from deep in their own half to score the third after Workington had been pushing forward. Ryan Serrant released substitute James Walshaw down the left and he went on to hammer in a low cross which was thumped home impressively by Mark Bett.

It was scant consolation that Workington’s equaliser on ten minutes had been the goal of the night.

Graham Anthony looked up almost 40 yards from goal, saw Curtis Aspden off his line and his delightful chip beat the hurriedly back-pedalling keeper to find a resting place in the Farsley net.

Workington’s two best spells were immediately after they levelled and early in the second-half when they saw a lot of the ball but couldn’t find a way through.

Lee Andrews, who has been Workington’s best player this season, was a notable exception but it will be no comfort to Edmondson because he’s an absentee on Saturday when Reds have to come up with the goods against Solihull.

STAR MAN – LEE ANDREWS – Solid, capable and consistent as he has been so far – the form player that Reds can really ill-afford to lose on Saturday.

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

Referee: Scott Ledger, West Yorkshire

Crowd: 101

First published at 11:50, Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk