Workington Town 4 Clitheroe 1

By Chris Musson

With Clitheroe having beaten league leaders Workington at Shawbridge earlier in the season, there was a sense that the home team would be all out to maintain their perfect February record. To add to the mix, with 60mph winds forecast to peak at half time, the scene was set for a dramatic encounter. And so it proved.

With the Blues giving debuts to Preston loanees Lincoln McFayden and Tyrhys Dolan at left back and striker respectively, there was a new look to the formation, with Charlie Russell completing the mix at right back.

Kicking into a strengthening wind for the first half, Clitheroe were quickly on the back foot and rarely strayed into opposition territory. Workington played a very canny game and ensured they kept the ball on the ground rather than ballooning it high into the wind, and this proved the root of their success.

After an even start, Workington got their big break when McFayden was drawn into fouling a player in the box as he ran away from the area. The referee had no choice but to award the penalty, which leading scorer Scott Allison converted for the first of his hat trick of goals.

Chris Thompson then had to be alert as he sprinted to save bravely at feet, with the Clitheroe defence smothering the follow up. However, there was little they could do when the home side sliced open the Clitheroe defence down the left hand side and from the pull back, ex Blue Brad Carroll trapped the ball, steadied himself and drove the ball across Thompson into the far corner.

Further pressure came, not least down the left flank and the home winger was tormenting Russell both with the ball and off it. When Russell was shown a yellow card, the following free kick was headed goalward only for Ollie Wood to head off the line. Still the home side came forward, and when Allison received the ball from the right, he drove it home, giving Thompson little chance.

As the half time whistle approached, the lead was further extended when the ball was threaded from the centre of the pitch to the left flank and the quick early cross was buried by Allison.

As the second half started the wind went up a notch and was joined by torrential rain and sleet.

Whilst Clitheroe had much more of the possession, to their credit Workington kept pressing and playing the ball to feet, making a number of half chances.

A level of pride was restored when Dolan pinged in a 25 yard drive to pull a goal back, but it was too little too late for Clitheroe. As the game struggled with the atrocious conditions, there was little more action to report.

The Blues will now hope for home comforts next weekend to get back on track, hopefully without gale force winds for the first time in many weeks.

Team: Thompson, Russell, McFayden, Stanley, Foulds, Baxter, Cummings, Carney, Wood, Dolan, Gaul. Subs (used) Gregory, O’Neil, Gray. Sub (not used) Camarda