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Saturday 25th September - Workington 2-1 Frickley Athletic

The Blues gave UniBond Premier Division leaders Workington a run for their money but suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat, despite an inspired second half performance which limited the home side to just a few quick breaks.

Gary Hatto was forced to reshuffle the side a little with Mark Vickerage being ruled out due to his hernia injury. James Walker partnered Richard Tracey up front, although Hatto re-signed former Blues' forward Adam Russell from Pickering Town and he started on the bench. Steve Woolford was also missing and Wayne Benn moved into midfield to replace him.

Workington started brightly and almost took the lead within 4 minutes when Mark Eccles sent over a cross from the left which eluded everyone except Paul O'Neill at the far post but it took him by surprise and he could only chest the ball goalwards from 4 yards but Marc Shackelton reacted well to push the ball away. Less than sixty seconds later the Blues responded with Nathan Hood having his 22 yard shot tipped over the bar by Adam Collin. Almost immediately Eccles beat Steve Robinson down the Workington left and played the ball into the box to Gary Cohen who did well to hold off three defenders before turning and shooting tamely at Shackelton. After the early chances the game settled down and it was nearly twenty minutes later before there was another serious attempt at goal. Former Barrow player Ian Arnold played a clever ball through for Craig Johnston but his angled shot from 12 yards was saved comfortably by Shackelton. Workington went close again on 34 minutes when Mathew Henny burst past Wayne Benn into the box and sent over a perfect cross for the onrushing Johnston to meet with a powerful header which came down off the underside of the crossbar and was cleared by Robinson. However, the inevitable goal for the home side came on 38 minutes. A free-kick on the left was played short to Eccles who sent over a low cross which Arnold got a slight touch on to direct it goalwards but it came back off the far post to Cohen who tapped in from almost on the line. On the stroke of half time Workington increased their lead when Steve Birks' through ball found Johnston, looking several yards offside, in acres of space inside the box and he coolly lobbed the advancing Shackelton. 

Frickley came out fired up for the second half and started to take the game to their hosts. Hood went close again on 52 minutes when Dale Rimmingto picked him out on the left and he cut inside to fire inches wire of the left hand post from 25 yards. Frickley received a lifeline on 58 minutes when Robinson played the ball into the box for Tracey to chase and, after Tracey's vociferous appeal, the referee awarded a penalty for handball against Alan Gray. BENN Stepped up to convert the penalty.

This gave Frickley a lift and they started to take the game to the hosts, who rarely got anywhere near Frickley's goal for the rest of the game. Richard Tracey then had two decent chances to test Workington 'keeper Collin, the second of which was created by Shackelton whose quick clearance found Hood in space down the right and he sent over  great cross which Tracey volleyed over from 15 yards. As full-time neared the home side were content to waste time and settle for the 2-1 win.

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