Whitehaven Amateurs 0, Workington 4.

BY ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Workington Reds bounced back from Tuesday’s disappointing showing against Darlington with a comfortable 4-0 win over Whitehaven Amateurs at The Focus Scaffolding Sports complex. 

Goals from Callum Ruttledge, Matty Tymon and two from Gareth Arnison extended Workington’s unbeaten run over their West Cumbrian rivals to six games.

In a reversal of fortunes to Tuesday night Reds found themselves three goals ahead within 20 minutes. 

The first came in the opening 60 seconds when Gari Rowntree’s 50 yard diagonal through ball into space was latched onto by Gareth Arnison who, with a first-time volleyed lob, beat the on-rushing goalkeeper and found the net.

Reds made it two on ten minutes, after a quick Rico Colulo throw put Arnison in behind down the left. He squared it to Ruttledge who calmly slotted home from eight yards.

The third followed after 20 minutes when Antony Wright played it wide right to Arnison. He did excellently to dig out a deep cross from the by-line which found Matty Tymon. 

The former Hartlepool man controlled the ball on his chest before striking a right footed volley from eight yards that nestled in the bottom corner via a slight deflection

Reds fourth came from a 33rd minute penalty.  Arnison, with his back goal was felled as he attempted to tee-up Anthony Wright.  The front man took the spot-kick himself, stroking low to the keeper’s right.

A half-time four goal lead didn’t flatter Workington in the slightest; they could very easily have scored more.  Colulo and Ruttledge, playing as interchangeable wide men, created an abundance of space for central pairing Wright and Phil McLuckie as Workington dominated possession.

McLuckie, on a number of occasions got ahead of his front men and will be disappointed he didn’t get his name on the score sheet.  The first of his two glorious chances came midway through the first period as Arnison, from the left by-line, played him in, eight yards out. 

He took a number of touches before sliding the ball past the keeper, only for it to be unbelievably cleared over the crossbar from two yards by a desperate Amateur’s defender.

Arnison then provided for McLuckie again, brilliantly controlling David Hewson’s long pass before delivering a perfect cross that the athletic midfielder headed just wide.

Arnison was on top form, particularly on the first half.  In addition to his goal threat; he displayed good first touch and numerous pieces of clever link-up play. 

Tymon was equally impressive in flashes, his strength and direct approach causing Whitehaven numerous problems.  He still has to work on his consistency though, his first touch letting him down far too often.

In defence, Alex White looked solid both in the air and on the ground while Rowntree gave an accomplished performance from full-back, defending responsibly as well as providing an additional attacking threat down the left.

Whitehaven weren’t without their own attacking threat in the first half, getting forward and working the channels well whenever possible.  They were seldom able to force Aaran Taylor into any real saves though. 

That said, Taylor commanded his area impeccably, claiming all crosses with confidence and being deceive when mopping up any through balls.

Taylor also contributed to a number of attacks, his long kicks catching out a very flat Whitehaven back four, who struggled aerially all game.

The second half failed to produce anymore goals, despite starting brightly.  Shaun Vipond came on for Colulo at the break, after the young winger appeared to have aggravated his hamstring late in the first.  And after Aaron Taylor had made his first ‘real’ save of the game, diving at the feet of an onrushing attacker, Reds broke forward and Vipond, clean through, blazed over the bar.

Shortly after, Tymon rose well and headed a Mcluckie cross inches over.  Then at the other end, Hewson cleared superbly from under his own crossbar with a last-ditch slide, before the mass substitutions descended and the game began to suffer.

Of the replacements, Blake and Tinnion looked good, out of position at full-back.  Aaron Taylor though, looked significantly inferior to Tymon, whom he replaced.

Workington were never far from adding a fifth, but moves frequently broke down as Whitehaven flooded their defensive third, camping out there for the last 25 minutes, in attempt to avoid a more humiliating defeat.

Reds team: Aaran Taylor, Hewson (Blake 63), White, Langford, Rowntree (Jackson 72), Ruttledge (Main 63), McLuckie (Hindmarch 67), Anthony Wright (Tinnion 67), Colulo (Vipond 45), Tymon (Aaron Taylor 58), Arnison (Murray-Jones 67).

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