Workington Reds 3 Consett 3

Four matches into their long pre-season build-up, Workington are still undefeated with two wins and two draws.

The management team of Lee Andrews and Dave Hewson had set a target of going through the series of friendlies with an unbeaten record, with the biggest test to come tomorrow night at home to Carlisle United.

With so many experienced players set to miss the start of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League season, the clutch of friendlies have been designed to find suitable replacements.

To that degreee they have already been a success with one or two individuals showing already that they can fill some big missing boots.

Brad Hubbold, formerly of Holker Old Boys, is certainly one whose busy, controlled and skilful play in midfield has been a feature of the two home games so far.

He was the star of the show in this pleasing work-out against an experienced Northern League side who finished ninth in Division One last season, and reckon they have strengthened this time round with two new additions.

They had more of a physical presence than Fleetwood’s young Under-23 side last Tuesday, but they also liked to pass the ball around and were perfect opposition at this stage of proceedings.

Aaran Taylor had to make the first important save of the match on 11 minutes, a brave, close-range block in the six-yard box to deny Michael Sweet.

But two minutes later, the visitors took the lead when Sweet atoned with a fine curling cross which saw skipper Danny Craggs go full-length to head spectacularly past Taylor.

Workington were slower into their stride than they had been on Tuesday but, on 26 minutes, they drew level with a well-worked goal which ended with a trialist thumping a great dive beyond goalkeeper Kyle Hayes from the edge of the box.

Then a burst of scoring, with three goals inside five minutes, sent Consett in at the break with a 3-2 advantage.

On 35 minutes, a Consett corner was only headed out to the edge of the area where Craggs responded well by thumping a low shot through a crowded area and past the unsighted Taylor.

Two minutes later, Consett scored again when substitute Michael Mackay raced on to a perfect through ball. He spotted Taylor advancing and calmly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.

But Reds finished the half with a flourish.

A splendid effort by Hubbold was tipped round the post in spectacular fashion by Hayes for a corner which they couldn’t clear properly. Hubbold cleverly found space at the byline and his perfect low ball was thumped home from close-range by Aaron Bradbury.

Within six minutes of the restart, Reds were level with a typical Conor Tinnion finish.

When Reds were awarded a free-kick just outside the area, Tinnion hammered a left-foot special over the wall and into the top corner.

Both sides made several changes as the game went past the hour mark but most of the efforts at goal finished wide of the target.

Match Facts

Reds: Taylor, Harker, Rowntree, Douglas, Tidy, Hubbold, Trialist, Cowperthwaite, Bradbury, Trialist, Tinnion. Subs (all used) Hetherington, McDonald, Mossop, Holliday, O’Brien, Casson.

Consett: Hayes, Green, Lavery, Slocombe, McKinnon, Purewal, Carr, Smith, Sweet, Craggs, Cassidy. Subs (all used) Lawrence, Male, Gray, Mackay.

Referee: Adam Pattison

Crowd: 135

Star Man: Brad Hubbold