Recap
Workington completed their first league double of the season with a fully deserved victory, leapfrogging their opponents in a congested Premier Division table in the process.
The Towbar Express Stadium has proved a happy hunting ground for Reds in the past, losing just once in nine league visits. And this was another successful coast-to-coast mission with the points assured long before the end.
Dav Symington netted in the corresponding fixture at Borough Park back in September but hasn’t been able to add to his century of goals since. But the talented number seven got back on track in the seventh minute with a superb left-footed strike which opened the scoring.
It prompted this response from a delighted Mark Fell, “That’s the best performance for Workington by Dav under me and he led from the front today.”
The skipper marked his birthday in style with a trademark goal, a sublime assist and an excellent contribution throughout.
But it certainly wasn’t a one-man show and there were excellent performances across the park.
The goal was the reward for an enterprising start from the visitors but Town’s response was laboured and although they forced six first half corners they didn’t stretch Reds’ rearguard too much.
There was, however, a controversial incident on the half hour mark when Alex Mitchell raced out of his area and fouled Layton Watts with the suggestion an elbow was raised. It was certainly a yellow card offence and had the incident been a few yards infield it would have been a clear goal scoring opportunity.
So, a bit of leniency from the referee but at least he was consistent when Louis Stephenson’s crunching challenge on Charlie Barnes was also punished by a yellow card.
Barnes had already been flattened by an accidental collision with Town captain, Jassem Sukar, and hobbled out of the action at half time.
Seven minutes after the restart, Reds doubled their lead with another fine goal. Ruben Grewal sent Symington clear down the left and the skipper’s pin-point cross found Kai Nugent whose diving header was in the net before Henry Popple could react.
Tom Stephenson, Symington and Nugent all squandered decent chances to increase Reds lead although they eventually added a third from top scorer, Steven Rigg. Released by Kai Nugent, his goal-bound shot took a deflection and looped over the stranded Popple for his eighteenth of the season.
The introduction of former Workington favourite, Matty Tymon, injected some life into the Town attack. He started winning headers, was narrowly wide with one attempt, had another saved by Mitchell and eventually grabbed Whitby’s consolation goal five minutes before the end of normal time.
From a Town perspective, it was too little, too late and Fell’s side managed the remaining minutes without any further scares.
Reds are now six points above the drop zone but face a tough schedule in February with matches against four play-off hopefuls, plus the re-arranged ‘six-pointer’ at Bamber Bridge.
Whitby Town: Popple, Stephenson L (Tymon, 55), Collins, Whelan, Smith, Sukar, Haswell, Hawkins (Thompson, 75), Walker (Williams, 85), Watts, Thomas. Substitutes – Jackson, Neale (not used).
Workington: Mitchell, Barnes (Arbrahart, 46), Clarke, Casson, Little (McDonough, 85), Ambrose, Symington, Grewal, Allen (Swinglehurst, 85), Nugent (Wane, 90), Stephenson (Rigg, 62).
Referee: Sam Packer
Bookings: Stephenson (Whitby Town), Mitchell, Grewal (Workington)
Attendance: 403
Photos: Brian Murfield