Workington 0, Darlington 3.

BY ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Three goals in the opening fifteen minutes secured a deserved victory for Darlington at Borough Park as Workington completed their home programme in the pre-season build-up.

The recently relegated visitors, who finished bottom of League Two last season, are being tipped by many for a swift return to the Football League but will undoubtedly expect much tougher tests than this.

The Quakers dominated the game for long periods when they looked physically and technically superior and much more fluid than a shell-shocked Reds who took a long time to recover from the early goal blitz..

The first came as early as the forth minute when Liam Hatch (pictured) delivered, what seemed a poor cross from the left, which bounced up on the edge of the penalty area.

Stevie Hindmarch, under no pressure, edged his body into the ball’s path and was stuck somewhere around the right arm.  The instant decision of penalty was somewhat harsh, as the arms were firmly by the player’s side.

The subsequent penalty was dispatched confidently by former Carlisle right-back, Paul Arnison.  Keeper Aaran Taylor dived the right way but was beaten by the brute force and speed of the strike.

The Reds keeper had to pick the ball out of the net again just four minutes later.  Hatch collected the ball just outside the Reds box and made a strong, direct run towards goal before cracking a thumping shot from eight yards off the joint of post and crossbar. 

The ball rebounded to Gary Smith who coolly chested the ball down and drilled a low unstoppably precise shot into the bottom left hand corner of Taylor’s goal.

Anthony Wright, one of the few stand-out performers in red (not just for his new hairdo), almost got lucky with a cross from deep that had Sam Russell franticly scrambling backwards, before the visitors struck again on 15 minutes. 

The first corner of the game was half cleared as far as Smith on the edge of the D. He lofted a ball into space behind the Reds defence where Hatch finished brilliantly,: poking low across Taylor into the far corner.

The general consensus of those near to the incident was that goalscorer Hatch looked clearly offside.  No one made their feeling felt more than Kyle May, who fervently berated the referee’s assistant in question for the rest of the half and beyond.

The early three-goal deficit was quite cruel on Reds, who hadn’t really done too much wrong but, had simply been undone by a team who had started brightly.

May and Anthony Wright both came close to pulling one back from consecutive Conor Tinnion corners but the scoreline had clearly affected the host’s moral and belief, and the game was fast dying as a real contest.

Workington’s frustration at the situation grew and Anthony Wright left a late boot in on Smith, before Hindmarch body-charged Paul Arnison right in front of the dugout; sparking very vocal complaints by Darlo boss, Mark Cooper.

Star-performer Hatch was forced off late in the half with a suspected dislocated elbow, after landing badly following a clipped-heels incident with May.  The injury was quite accidental and no blame can be placed on May who was, in fairness, unfortunate to be penalised.

From the resulting free kick, Darlington centre half Ian Miller inexplicitly failed to make it four, scuffing a volley from two yards that was pounced upon by the grateful gloves of Taylor. 

At the other end Tinnion then flighted a free kick a whisker over the bar just before the break after Matty Tymon was tripped.

There was just the single substitution at the break but thereafter, the game was constantly disrupted with them. 

Workington were much more organised in the second half when the introduction of big guns like Jonny Wright, Gareth Arnison, Phil McLuckie and Gari Rowntree saw them play more purposeful football, passing much better as well.

Although Darlington still looked dangerous, Reds weren’t without their opportunities in the second half but they were few and far between. 

Hindmarch blazed over from distance and substitute Jonny Wright attempted an awkward over-head kick at goal, which forced an easy save, after good work from Rico Colulo down the left.

After the match manager Darren Edmondson revealed that, for financial reasons, his squad will most likely have to be cut by three or four players before the big kick-off (August 14).  So, with just two friendlies remaining, time is running out for the trialists and fringe members to show their worth.

Anthony Wright was probably Reds only star performer, standing out with his new Mohican haircut and also his good work on the ball, good going forward, both from left-back and then left-midfield, in the second half.

Workington: Aaran Taylor, (Hewson (White, 74), A Wright (Colulo, 71), May, Langford, A Main, Hindmarch (Jackson, 80), Blake (McLuckie, 55), Aaron Taylor (J. Wright 55), Tymon (G Arnison, 55), Tinnion (Ruttledge, 71). Unused: Bryden, Andrews, Murray-Jones.

Darlington: Russell, Arnison, Austin (P Gray, 69), Miller, Hone, G Smith (Moore, 62), Chandler (Barnes, 65), McReady (Hopson, 69), Werling (J Gray, 45), Hatch (M Smith, 38), Wright (Main, 62). Unused: Jack.

Referee: Mr S Smith

Attendance: 169

Next fixture: Whitehaven Amateurs (Away), Thursday 29th July.

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