Whitby Town 1-3 Workington AFC

Recap

NPL Premier 24/25 2024/25

Turnbull GroundYO21 3HZ, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Whitby Town
Upgang Lane Whitby North Yorkshire YO21 3HZ
Workington AFC
Workington Cumbria CA14 2DT
Preview

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

 

Details

Date Time League Season
25 January 2025 15:00 NPL Premier 24/25 2024/25

Ground

Turnbull Ground

YO21 3HZ, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Whitby Town

1Henry Popple Goalkeeper
2Louis Stephenson Defender 34'
3Sam Collins Defender
4Frankie Whelan Defender
5Connor Smith Midfielder
6Jassem Sukar Defender
7Aaron Haswell Midfielder
8Lewis Hawkins Midfielder
9Stephen Walker Forward
10Layton Watts Midfielder
11Nathan Thomas Midfielder
12Alfie Jackson Defender
14Kasper Williams Defender
15Matty Tymon Forward 85'
16Oliver Thompson Forward
17Joel Neale Goalkeeper
  1 1

Workington

1Alex Mitchell Goalkeeper 32'
2Charlie Barnes 17 Defender
3Matty Clarke Defender
4Ceiran Casson Midfielder
5Jordan Little 16 Defender
6Efe Ambrose Defender
7David Symington Midfielder 7'
8Ruben Grewal Midfielder 86'
9Jamie Allen 12 Forward
10Kai Nugent 14 Midfielder 52'
11Tom Stephenson 15 Midfielder
12Steven Swinglehurst 9 Defender
14Lucas Wane 10 Midfielder
15Steven Rigg 11 Forward 75'
16Alfie McDonough 5 Forward
17Joseph Abrahart 2 Defender
  3 2 2