Reds on Corsa for safety as Vauxhall crash

Last updated 10:58, Monday, 24 March 2008

Workington 1 Vauxhall Motors 0: THREE-MATCH unbeaten run – with seven of the nine points on offer safely reeled in – have removed any lingering fears of Blue Square North relegation.

But Workington could have rattled-up their biggest win of the season against a Vauxhall side who looked to be strong candidates for the drop.

Frankly I lost count of the one-on-one situations that Workington created but couldn’t take advantage of. Certainly a five or six goal-winning margin would not have looked out of place.

Typically in those sort of situations, when the second goal just won’t come, there’s always the danger that the opposition can spoil the day by snatching an equaliser.

That nearly happened in the closing 15 minutes when Vauxhall threw aside any thoughts of being cautious and went desperately in search of a precious point.

Their best move of the match put the hard-working Peter Heler in the clear but he shot tamely at Adam Collin, then in a subsequent attack the ball bobbled invitingly in a crowded Workington box for what seemed ages but a couple of brave defensive blocks denied the visitors.

Vauxhall’s only two other threats at the Workington goal had come in the first-half.

Firstly the experienced Ged Brannan got on the end of a Jordan Holmes corner and a sharp header was superbly turned over the bar by Collin.

But the Workington keeper was motionless on his line, probably unsighted, when Heler unleashed a rocket from the edge of the area which flashed inches the wrong side of the post.

Vauxhall’s list of near misses paled into insignificance alongside the catalogue of chances Workington had to bury the game.

The best two in the first-half fell to skipper Graham Anthony and Jonny Wright, when a betting man would have put money on both of them finding the target.

Anthony fired over from ten yards when he met first-time a clever pull-back from Dave Hewson while Wright did well to fashion himself a chance after dispossessing Brannan on the edge of the area.

He seemed to have too much time as he went on with just keeper Andrew Murphy to beat and finally his shot was deflected past the post.

The second-half produced a string of opportunities for the Reds to add to their 37th minute goal, but they were all spurned.

The best effort was from Anthony when he curled a free-kick from the edge of bn the area round the wall and Murphy got across low to make a smart save.

Dan Kirkup, with a flashing header from an Anthony corner which was just wide, could have had his first goal while in a crowded penalty area Craig Johnston lifted a shot over the bar.

Michael Reed twice got through with just Murphy to beat but his lack of match practice clearly showed as he snatched at the shots to put one inches over the bar and the other well past the post.

Fellow substitute Andrew Hardman was also put through on goal with only Murphy to beat but his low shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs.

Fortunately Reds had broken the dead-lock in the first-half through Anthony, who took a much harder chance than the one he had missed earlier.

Jonny Wright square for Matt Berkeley beyond the left hand post and he played the ball back in for Anthony to cleverly pick his spot and drive the ball into the top corner past several Vauxhall defenders.

STAR MAN: Dan Kirkup continues to look a solid individual at the heart of the defence and won the official man of the match but once again for total commitment, involvement, energy and important ball-winning DAVE HEWSON had another fine game.

KEY MOMENT: In view of all the missed opportunities it has to be the one that counted from Graham Anthony on 37 minutes. Well finished, and much harder than the one he missed earlier.

Reds: Collin, Andrews, Rowntree, Gray, Kirkup, Hewson, Anthony, Hopper (Johnston 45), Berkeley (Reed 54), J. Wright (Hardman 80), A. Wright. Subs (not used) Gullen, Taylor.

Referee: Peter Wright, Southport

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