Reserves in title charge

By John Walsh

Last updated 11:30, Friday, 04 April 2008

WORKINGTON reserves continued their push for the Lancashire League title with a comprehensive derby victory over Barrow last night.

With the senior sides due to meet at Borough Park on Tuesday night in a Blue Square North clash, it was a timely boost for the Workington club.

Manager Darren Edmondson watched the young second string prove too powerful for Barrow as they won 5-0 and weren’t seriously extended.

Goalkeeper Aaran Taylor was a spectator for 80 minutes and then made three good saves in the late stages when Workington were virtually home and dry.

Workington got off to a flying start with a goal on four minutes when Tony Nicholson headed home from close range.

The Reds continued to dominate but didn’t score again until just before half-time when a shot from Michael Reed was parried by the keeper and Andrew Hardman dived in bravely to head home.

Ten minutes after the restart David Renyard, who had replaced Hardman, was rather fortunate to score the third when the Barrow keeper allowed his shot to go through his legs.

Reed, desperate to get some game time under his belt, fired in the fourth goal from a Renyard cross on 70 minutes. In the closing stages Nicholson put in a great break down the left-hand side and a perfect cross was slotted home by Renyard.

Apart from the win, the other good news for manager Edmondson was that skipper Kyle May made a successful come-back from injury and played 85 minutes without any alarms.

Phil McLuckie, who has joined Reds on a free transfer from Morecambe, also played for a reserve side who are now three points ahead of Fleetwood at the top of the Western Division. They can add to that advantage on tonight (8pm) when they entertain Darwen.

Workington’s Blue Square North game with Worcester City which was postponed on Saturday will now be played on Tuesday, April 22. City had explored the possibility of playing on Sunday, April 27 and Thursday, April 24 but have now settled for the Tuesday night.