Workington FC

 Always a special place to visit for me having lived there and my dad being a supporter of the club for decades, this visit was a bit different with Borough Park now redundant and the game being played at the rugby ground next door, the fibrus community stadium, until the new stadium is built in a couple of years, hopefully.

We had a leisurely drive over and checked into the hotel early to relax after an early start to try and beat the horrendous roadworks on the A66 near Penrith. Workington town centre seems to have improved in the last couple of years with a new NHS diagnostics centre on wasteland, the bus station has been refurbished, the new Workington gateway road improvement and it seemed a lot of the empty shops were filled, more cafes being noticeable, although the stain of Turkish barbers and vape convenience stores has also appeared, time the government cracked down on those as they say they will. 

The game was midweek and opposition in the form of Warrington Rylands, one of the leagues big spenders. Workington have started slow again this season albeit still better than last and under the stewardship of popular figure Billy Barr. I was disappointed upon arrival at the ground that I couldn't find the club shop and that standing on the terrace behind the goal was prohibited, although the terrace around the far side provided a good view. I was happy to meet Steve Durham beforehand although he vanished before I had chance to have a good chat to him. We got chips and gravy and a hot dog with onions from the burger van and took our spots. 

Barr has been very astute in the transfer market, where Workington notoriously struggle to attract players. Last season he brought in Daniel Ogwuru, Tyler Magloire and Luke Hunter on loans with Isacc Whitehall adding some quality in midfield. This season Hunter has joined permanently, with James Grayson signing to add steel to the back line before this game. Brennan Dickenson also led the line and showed his pedigree and what a quality player for Workington to bring in a few weeks ago. 

The first half was painfully slow, Workington were hoof and hope whereas Warrington were pass and move and seemed to have a clear plan. It wasn't long until Workington were behind with some atrocious defending, a theme that continued all through the half, however jsmust before the interval they got a reprieve as Warrington number 9 George Waring was shown a red card for a discriminatory comment. Only one down and a man up, offered hope going into the second half. 

Barr has said previously Workington play like a 45 minute team so I was expecting better, however they were 2 down minutes in, again after some awful defending. Things did improve though and Workington seemed to calm down and feel less pressure at this point, pulling a goal back through Kai Nugent before a wonderful Whitehall free kick levelled things up. I'd have took a draw but young striker Josh Palmer headed home to give the Cumbrians a vital home win. There was still time for another Warrington player to see red for an innocuous looking challenge before the final whistle blew to the delight of the 650 strong crowd.