Recap
A frustrating afternoon at Borough Park with a disjointed first half showing from the hosts contributing to an early exit from the FA Trophy as ‘Brig won in Cumbria for the second time this season.
And when Reds finally started to produce some method to their play, it was too late with their NPL rivals adding to their already impressive record on the ground which has produced away wins in league, FA Cup and now two victories in the Trophy.
It prompted a vicious circle of unrest on the terraces with a section of support berating a thread-bare squad in their hour of need, with very little constructive criticism offered via the various media outlets afterwards.
We all desperately want to win, and are all bitterly disappointed when we lose, but this situation needs to be tempered with a bit of realism. Demanding that miracle solution isn’t really an option and when various sections of the club are pulling in different directions the task is even more onerous.
Reds might have scored the first goal with a bit more composure as Tom Stephenson just failed to toe-poke home the opener after the game’s first attack and then Jamie Allen saw a decent effort saved by James Pradic.
One stray clearance later, aided by some poor defending, resulted in ‘Brig being gifted that all important goal in the fourth minute.
Former Workington trialist, Michael Potts, was left unchallenged in the area and able to score with ease.
And with acres of space to operate in, the Bamber Bridge skipper had total control of the midfield. He released Lucas Weaver soon after but an uncharacteristic wayward finish from the striker saved Reds further embarrassment.
But it was only a temporary reprieve and, by the nineteenth minute, the visitors had one foot in the Second Round. Perhaps because it was a veteran defender operating as a makeshift centre forward, that Reds failed to close down Simon Grand on the edge of the area. Well, he took full advantage of the situation and promptly volleyed home the second goal with a finish which matched his surname.
He almost had a second before the interval but saw a far post header gathered by Alex Mitchell.
Reds rarely looked a threat as an attacking force although a Josh Galloway free-kick narrowly cleared the bar.
Weaver got behind Reds’ defence early in the second half and a superb angled volley hit the far post before rebounding conveniently into Mitchell’s arms. A turning point for the home-side possibly?
Stephenson threatened in one attack, as their general play improved, before a controversial incident saw the number 7 poleaxed by a dangerous double-fisted action by Pradic.
Stephenson was knocked out and eventually carried off on a stretcher yet, whilst there was no doubt about the award of the spot-kick, the referee opted to show Pradic a yellow card instead of red.
Steven Rigg, who else, found the bottom corner of Pradic’s net for the sixty-second minute lifeline but Reds had lost a key player and ‘Brig hadn’t!
Finding a way back into the game was then a possibility but became irrelevant after seventy-five minutes. Weaver got the goal he probably deserved with a sublime effort from outside the box after, it has to be said, very little in the way of a challenge on the in-form striker.
Workington were given a second penalty when Grand and Rigg wrestled each other to the ground and the latter, for the third home game in a row, finished with a brace after blasting home from the spot.
He almost completed his hat-trick before the end with a header but it was a case of too little, too late.
So, no Trophy glory for Reds for another season, at least, with the loser’s cheque of £775 providing very little in the way of consolation after a disappointing afternoon.
Workington: Mitchell, Galloway, Fitzpatrick, Ambrose, Swinglehurst, Wilkinson, Stephenson (Hetherington, 62), Jake Allan (Nugent, 56), Rigg, Norris, Jamie Allen. Substitutes – McDonough, Christian, Eccles (not used).
Bamber Bridge: Pradic, Wallbank, Brockbank, Dodd, Kenyon (Adubofour, 15), Churchman (Cullen, 81), Edwards (Hey, 70), Potts (Mohamed, 81), Grand, Weaver, Baxter.
Referee: Ryan Moore, Sunderland
Bookings: Galloway (Workington), Pradic, Grand, Baxter, Adubofour (Bamber Bridge).
Attendance: 605