Workington Reserves 1 - 3 AFC Fylde Reserves
Thursday 13th August 2009
The Reds Reserves started their Lancashire League programme last Thursday with a home match against AFC Fylde and Greg Mitchell had the satisfaction of scoring the first goal of the season. Unfortunately, though, it was to no avail as the Reserves lost 3-1 to a visiting outfit who were far more ‘streetwise’ on the night.
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Greg Mitchell |
Dan Gullen picked up a yellow card early on and was skating on thin ice throughout the game committing a number of robust challenges that on another night may have warranted a second yellow.
Playing as alone striker, Stefan Scott was the first player to trouble either keeper when visiting AFC Fylde ‘keeper David Stevenson required two attempts to stop his shot.
AFC Fylde’s lively winger Robert Edwards caused problems for the Reds defence throughout the night and opened the scoring on the evening. Beating the offside trap, he raced onto a through ball and from just inside the penalty area let fly with a shot that took a slight deflection wrong footing keeper James Dryden.
The Reds Reserves were making all the chances in the first half; Jordan Lee had a shot saved well low down by Stevenson, while Adam Main’s side footed shot just curled just wide of the top corner.
Good interplay down the left flank between the very promising left back Sam Smith and Jordan Lee saw Lee’s fierce shot pushed out for a corner at the near post.
Three changes within six minutes gave the Reds fresh impetus with the introduction Gareth Brunton, Greg Mitchell and Callum Lee.
Greg Mitchell battled for the ball in the Fylde area and switching onto his left foot, fired into the bottom corner of the net.
The Reds were looking to go on and win the game at this point but conceded two goals with three minutes. A long ball up to Scott Harris had ‘keeper James Dryden stranded in ‘no man’s land’ and Harris headed past Dryden to score.
Two minutes later Robert Edwards extended the lead with a clever chip over Dryden to seal the victory.
Reserves manager Steve Lee commented, “We got into the game after going one-nil down and had a chance of going in level, though, I was still happy going in one-nil down at half time.”
“After putting on the three subs, the fresh legs changed us and we got back to one-one and they were worried at this point as their back four wasn’t the strongest though their central midfield and the speed they had out wide was causing us problems and at one-one I thought we might go on and win it.”
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Sam Smith |
“I thought we could have done better with the two goals conceded late on and I’m disappointed. We didn’t know what to expect and they were a better side than I thought they would be. They had a few old heads in central midfield that were good and they run the show.”
The Reserves face another tough game at Borough Park on Thursday (8pm) when champions Fleetwood Town are the visitors.
Reserves: James Bryden, Dion Barnes (Callum Lee 66), Sam Smith, George Close, Andrew Brown, Lee McCullough, Andrew Bromley (Gareth Brunton 60), Dan Gullen, Stefan Scott (Greg Mitchell 60), Adam Main, Jordan Lee. Subs unused: Jake Smith, Simon Bragg.
Referee: Mr S. Taylor
Man of the Match: Sam Smith