Penrith 3, Workington 2.

By ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Workington Reds were deservedly beaten by Penrith FC in an exciting, yet frustrating encounter at Frenchfields. 

Simon Tucker, player/assistant manager of the Northern League One outfit, scored the winner, six minutes from time - bundling home at the far post from a driven Scott Priest cross.

The goal was no more than the hosts deserved after playing the better and more composed football throughout, on a very difficult surface. 

Frenchfields Stadium, which was part funded by a six-figure contribution from the Northwest Regional Development Agency, boasts picturesque rural scenery, coupled with up-to-date quality facilities. 

Field drainage however seemed a slight issue; lingering July rain made the surface desperately slippy and the game, almost farcical at times.

The game was riddled with errors, many caused by the surface, and Workington were first to benefit from the conditions. 

The visitors took the lead on 32 minutes when Rico Colulo got free of his man down the left, played in Aaron Taylor who was felled by the clumsy challenge of Penrith keeper, James Holland. 

With a short run-up, Callum Ruttledge dispatched the spot kick with a low shot that squirmed beneath the unfortunate keeper, who guessed correct; diving low to his right.
 
The biggest victim of the conditions was surely Red’s defender, Alex White.  The 21 year-old trialist has been in impressive form in Red’s opening friendlies, but was far too mistake prone here and was at fault for two of the three Penrith goals. 

On 36 minutes he miskicked in attempting to clear a customary long ball, allowing Dan Robinson in behind him to equalize with a tidy finish, stroking low past Taylor with the outside of his right boot.

White was again at fault for Penrith’s second on 55 minutes.  He unsuccessfully connected with a clearing header, the ball spun up off his head and landed in the path of substitute Priest who unleashed a superb low driven volley across goal and into the far bottom corner, with Taylor rooted to the spot.

Jonny Wright was on the receiving end of a less than ‘friendly’ challenge, as he was poleaxed by Wayne Robertson late in the first half.  The tackle prompted referee, Scott Taylor to demand that the Penrith centre-half leave the field; enforcing a substitution rather than brandishing a red card.

The wounded Wright also came off and his replacement, Matty Tymon, again staked his claim to become a full Workington player and starter; consistently holding the ball well, and bagging his second pre-season goal. 

He brought the scores level at two-all on 75 minutes; getting on the end of a long, angled free kick from Shaun Vipond to head home from six yards.

The whole game was played at a frantic pace and both teams struggled to keep possession throughout and moves rarely survived five passes before turnover.  Both sides also attempted to squeeze the play, playing high defensive lines. Penrith dealt with this better; consistently looking dangerous on the counter attack. 

Red’s full-backs Andy Langford and Anthony Wright were given torrid times by wingers, Dean Douglas and Craig Wilson, who looked sharp and dangerous throughout. 

The pair combined for one of the moves of the match midway through the first half – Douglas cut inside and made a clever darting cross field run, slid in Wilson, who rounded the keeper but had his goal-bound effort blocked by Wright.

At the other end Ruttledge and Rico Colulo were given starts as wide-men and will quite rightly be disappointed by the limited number of times they tested their full-backs one-on-one, especially Ruttledge, whose direct opponent in the first half, left back Mark Jones, embodied the sporting physique of a top quality darts player.

In the second half, Aaran Taylor saved well, diving down to his left, following Tucker’s smart turn and shot from 20 yards, with the scores at 2-1.  Priest then rounded the keeper and put the ball in the net but was rightly judged offside. 

Tymon’s equalizer galvanized Workington briefly and Stephen Hindmarch stung Holland’s palms from distance, while Vipond and Tymon had shots well blocked.

But Penrith dug in and Tucker’s winner in the 86th minute was just reward for an admirable team performance.  Tymon wasn’t far from a last minute leveler though when, following some pinball in the Penrith defensive third, the ball fell at the his feet; he turned and with the last kick of the game curled a placed shot which flicked wide off the outside of the far post from 19 yards.

A draw would truly have flattered the Red’s however, who lacked direction and spark, and looked second best for most of the match.

Now with just three and a half weeks until the proper games begin, Darren Edmondson’s boys need to step up their preparations, find some attacking sharpness and develop some better on-the-field partnerships.

Saturday’s trip to Whitley Bay will surely provide an ideal opportunity for the Reds to bounce back.  However, their seaside opponents finished eleven places above Penrith last season so should not be taken at all lightly.

Reds Team: Aaran Taylor, Langford, A. Wright, May, White, Blake (Andy Murray Jones 74), Ruttledge (Tinnion 62), Vipond, J.Wright (Tymon 42), Aaron Taylor (Jackson 74), Rico Colulo (Hindmarch 62).

Referee: Scott Taylor

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