Recap
Credit to both teams, and the match officials, for braving the hostile weather at Borough Park and serving up some form of entertainment on a Spring afternoon.
The conditions were atrocious – horizontal rain and a chilling wind – and it can’t have been much fun for those involved.
So, for Workington to come out on top when anything could have happened says much for their attitude and character. It was a straightforward, well-deserved win by the finish and completed a league double over the Derbyshire outfit.
The earlier meeting had also been played in torrential rain so ‘Ain’t no sunshine’ might have been an appropriate tune on the pre-match play-list!
Mickleover actually landed a shot on target in the opening seconds but it was a rare sortie into Reds’ territory and once Workington, facing the wind and rain in the first half, got their noses in front there wasn’t much doubt about the outcome.
And on an afternoon when many passes and clearances went astray, the opening goal was well worked and neatly despatched. Jamie Allen found Josh Galloway out wide and the latter got beyond Kwaku Donkor before his low cross was confidently converted by Tom Stephenson from six yards.
David Symington was unlucky not to add to the advantage early in the second half when a low left-footed strike hit the post and rebounded to safety. Ceiran Casson then saw another shot narrowly drift wide of the target.
Yet the hosts weren’t able to double their lead until the last quarter of an hour, before doing so via the penalty spot. Jordan Little was clearly impeded in the area by Curtis Weston and the referee awarded the penalty.
Skipper Symington blasted home the second with Yusuf Mersin probably relieved that the ball hit the net rather than him!
And the much-travelled ‘keeper was the focus of attention for a few minutes as he saved well to deny both Kai Nugent and Jake Allan before making a hash of a clearance which wouldn’t have happened in normal conditions.
The scoring was completed ten minutes before the end with the outstanding Symington again involved. He chipped a sublime cross into the area which Connor Pani met and headed home his fourth goal in Workington colours.
Reds still have work to do to preserve their Step 3 status, despite finishing the day six points clear of the drop zone. On the other hand, Mickleover appear to have run out of time as they remain in 21st position but ten points adrift of safety with just five games left.
Workington: Barrett, Barnes, Fitzpatrick, Casson, Little, Pani, Symington, Jake Allan (Grewal, 84), Jamie Allen, Galloway (Clarke, 82), Stephenson (Nugent, 63). Substitutes – Ambrose, Swinglehurst (not used).
Mickleover: Mersin, Donkor (Hollingsworth, 46), Fearon (Weston, 46), Atkinson, Wilkinson, Senior, Edwards (Beavon, 66), Adebambo, Dales, Keane (Bennett, 46), Barnes (Maskall, 66).
Bookings: Workington – none, Mickleover – two.
Referee: Alex Clark, Gateshead
Attendance: 667