Recap
Workington’s first ever Northern Premier League encounter against a vibrant Stockton side will be long remembered as a chastening experience.
Their patched-up squad, without six players who appeared on the team sheet at Hyde, were soundly beaten by a rampant Town outfit who are living the dream in their first season as a Step 3 club.
And with their sixth successive win comfortably secured long before half time, the Teessiders showed some empathy towards beleaguered Workington, taking their foot off the accelerator and free wheeling to victory in a second half that had a look of pretence about it.
How good Stockton are will be determined over the season and not on the evidence of this one-sided encounter. Similarly, Workington’s stock cannot be judged on ninety minutes when they failed to reach the competitive levels attained previously.
But, and there is often a but, how different would matters have been had Jamie Allen converted the game’s first chance? Put through after good work by Steven Rigg, Allen advanced into the Stockton area only to slice his shot wide of the target.
To say it was a costly miss might be harsh but Reds never got anywhere near Nathan Harker’s goal thereafter – until it was too late!
They bravely stayed in the game until the eighteenth minute when Stephen Thompson scored from close range after Cameron Painter’s diagonal cross was headed back into the danger area by Josh Scott.
And provider Scott doubled Stockton’s advantage less than three minutes later when he had time to steady himself and find the bottom of corner of Alex Mitchell’s net with a good finish.
Mitchell’s brilliant reflex save prevented a third when he pushed over Michael Sweet’s close-range effort.
In a rare sortie forward by the Cumbrians, an Allen attempt was cleared off the line.
Third and fourth goals for the hosts, either side of the interval, sentenced Reds to their heaviest defeat of the season.
Michael Roberts reacted when Reds’ defenders didn’t and the lively number 11 planted another shot from distance beyond Mitchell for what looked an unassailable half time lead.
Less than three minutes into the second half, it was definitely over. Thompson got his second when he was given acres of space to control the ball and send it into the right-hand corner of Mitchell’s net.
Whether by character and intent, or a more relaxed approach by Stockton, the visitors restored some pride with an improved second half showing.
Allen landed a shot on target, albeit comfortably saved by Harker, Rigg saw an angled attempt drift narrowly wide, Kai Nugent was thwarted by Harker’s best save of the night, after Sam Hetherington had provided the assist, and David Norris’ looping header landed on the roof of the net.
And the introduction of three of the Academy players, Sam Christian, Owen Johnston and Alfie McDonough – the latter two sampling NPL football for the first time – did produce a positive scenario but, for young and old, it was a tough gig.
Stockton had the final say and sent their supporters home happy with a fifth, securing their biggest win of the season in the process.
Michael Fowler’s shot was pushed away by a fine Mitchell save but luck was against the ‘keeper. The ball rebounded conveniently to Scott who promptly drove it into the back of the net.
The referee opted not to add much stoppage time, a welcome bonus!
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Baggs, Painter (Johnson,69), Nicholson (Purewal, 53), Coulthard, Sweet (Fowler, 57), Butterworth, Scott, Thompson (Birtles, 77), Roberts (Gallacher, 58).
Workington: Mitchell, Galloway, Fitzpatrick, Jake Allan (Christian, 58), Swinglehurst, Ambrose (Norris, 58), Hetherington, Wilkinson, Rigg, Nugent (Johnston, 79), Jamie Allen (McDonough, 69). Substitute – Eccles (not used).
Referee: Sam Ross, Consett
Booking: Swinglehurst (Workington)
Attendance: 605