Ian Waterhouse reports from Borough Park

Last updated at 14:41, Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Workington Reds 1 Telford 0: Workington Reds produced a committed display to earn a deserved victory over AFC Telford at Borough Park on Saturday.

Arnison, Robinson and McLuckie celebrate

Gareth Arnison scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half, as he rounded the visiting goalkeeper and finished from a tight angle.

Arnison had been forced to play a lone striking role, with strike partner Jonny Wright sitting out the game through suspension.

And with a clutch of other players also unavailable, Reds were only able to name three substitutes, including the player-manager Darren Edmondson.

The game took a little time to settle down and Shaun Vipond had the first attempt on target in the 13th minute, but Ryan Young in the visitors’ goal was equal to his 25-yard shot. Reds then had reason to be thankful to their own goalkeeper on two occasions just past the midway point of the half.

Firstly, visiting striker Mark Danks was denied by Adam Collin, and then the Reds’ stopper produced an even better save to keep out a Stuart Whitehead header from the resultant corner.

Reds were next to go close on the half-hour mark when a through ball from Phil McLuckie found its way through to Arnison.

The Reds’ striker beat the onrushing keeper to the ball, but was unable to convert the chance as he struck the side-netting from a prohibitive angle.

Collin was again in the action on 34 minutes, as he was stretched high to his right to keep out a flicked header from Danny Carey-Bertram.

After a tightly-contested first half, the game failed to open up to any great extent at the start of the second period.

Both Kyle May and Lee Andrews showed their determination on the hour mark, as they made crucial blocks on the edge of their own penalty area to charge down goalbound shots.

And Gari Rowntree then produced an equally important intervention just two minutes later.

Carey-Bertram seemed certain to score as the ball came to him in the six-yard box, but Rowntree appeared from nowhere to flick the ball away from the striker at the expense of a corner.

The game’s only goal eventually arrived on 69 minutes, as Arnison was able to capitalise on his second one-on-one chance of the game.

Rowntree sprayed a long ball forward from the left-back area to McLuckie, who managed to feed it on to Arnsion in the box.

The Reds front-man again seemed to have taken the ball too wide in going round the goalkeeper, but this time he produced a composed finish into the corner of the net.

The three points could have been safe just five minutes later, but Anthony Wright saw his 25-yard shot hit the top of the crossbar.

And Arnison could then have doubled his tally as he again rounded the goalkeeper, but on this occasion he dragged his shot across the goalmouth.

Reds continued to have the better chances as time ran out, with the impressive substitute Jack Dorney curling a left-footed free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.

MATCH FACTS

Star man: Tony Hopper. The captain produced an assured display in central midfield and received a standing ovation when forced off by injury.

Reds: Collin, Langford, Rowntree, May, Andrews, McLuckie, Vipond, Hopper (Anane 88), Robinson, Arnison, A. Wright (Dorney 78). Sub not used: Edmondson.

Referee: I Siddall.

Attendance: 405.

First published at 11:30, Monday, 16 February 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk