John Fuller reports from Borough Park

Last updated at 12:11, Monday, 01 December 2008

Workington Reds 3 Vauxhall Motors 1: Workington Reds came from a goal down to beat Vauxhall Motors 3-1 at Borough Park on Saturday.

In you go: Gareth Arnison Celebrates after scoring for Workington Reds

During the week boss Darren Edmondson said the first goal would not determine the outcome of the tie and he was proved right.

Vauxhall went ahead within five minutes. Striker Karl Noon leapt highest from an in-swinging free-kick and looped a header over Adam Collin.

The goal spurred the Reds into life and for 20 minutes they attacked in numbers, battering the visitors’ defence.

Jonny Wright was unable to get onto an Anthony Wright cross. Gareth Arnison had a shot deflected wide for a corner and Tony Hopper volleyed over the bar from a David Hewson cross.

As Reds attacked Adam Collin was kept on his toes when Vauxhall broke. The fall fell to Motors’ Anthony Wright who drove a fierce shot from outside the box. Collin dived to his right, plucking the ball out of the air.

Despite their dominance Reds went into the break 1-0 down.

The second half started with Reds on top. Gari Rowtree picked the ball up and ran menacingly towards the Vauxhall goal but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

However, a minute later Workington were level. Anthony Wright played a long ball down the flank for Arnison to chase, he fed the ball to strike partner Jonny Wright who side-footed home from outside the box.

Arnison had a great chance to give Reds the lead but his free-header from an Anthony Wright cross went straight at James Coates in the Vauxhall goal.

But just a minute later Arnison went one better when he dived to head in the second after Jonny Wright’s pinpoint cross from the left wing.

On 65 minutes Rowntree robbed a Vauxhall defender and when the ball fell to Anthony Wright he pinged a 25-yard strike goalwards but Coates was equal to it, tipping it round the post for a corner.

From the set piece Anthony Wright had the ball on the right, his cross-come-shot evaded everyone in the packed penalty box and nestled in the far corner of the goal to give Reds a 3-1 advantage.

The goal was a relief to the 294 inside Borough Park and assistant boss Viv Busby showed what it meant to him by doing a jig on the pitch.

Andy Hardman replaced Jonny Wright on 73 minutes to a standing ovation and Martyn Coleman came on for Arnison on 84 minutes as Reds closed out the match.

Afterwards Edmondson said: “We were below par in the opening period but they only had one chance. I told the lads at half-time to increase the work rate and they did that in the second half.

“We deserved to win and the two lads up front (Jonny Wright, Gareth Arnison) worked hard and took their goals well.

“They are smart lads both on and off the pitch and with a little more belief in themselves then we could have a formidable front line for years to come.”

First published at 11:25, Monday, 01 December 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk