Last updated at 12:51, Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Southport 2 Workington Reds 0: Workington made an inauspicious start to their run of six successive away games which will determine their credentials as play-off hopefuls.

Darren Edmondson

But the trip to Haig Avenue was the toughest assignment of the lot against the only side unbeaten at home all season, and one that was looking to go top of the pile.

So, adopting the philosophy that they weren’t going to win all six games, and that probably 10 to 12 points are needed to stay in the hunt, defeat wasn’t a complete disaster.

But the lesson learnt must surely be that Reds must start to play their football a lot earlier.

It took them nearly an hour to find their rhythm and get a passing game going, as they unwisely tried to match Southport’s more direct style and never seriously tested the home keeper.

Once they stopped using the ‘ale-house ball’ as a general theme instead of as a last resort they had some joy and were a shade unlucky not to have got something out of the game.

Southport have a long-throw specialist; are dangerous in the air from these positions and the same player, Matty McGinn, delivers very effective free kicks and corners.

It was McGinn who provided the ammunition for Southport to fire and land the two knockout blows in a largely forgettable first-half.

From the first on 27 minutes it was Chris Simm who rose highest to get on the end of it and a downward header bounced beyond the diving Tony Caig.

Then, with Reds desperate to get in at half-time only one goal behind, Southport scored a similar second seconds before the end of the three minutes added time. This time it was centre-half Earl Davis who was found unmarked by McGinn’s deep free-kick and his header back across goal saw Steve Daly leap highest to nod over Caig’s fisted attempt at a clearance.

Manager Darren Edmondson said: “We knew what they were about but on two occasions we were unable to deal with it. I thought we were the better side in the second-half and could have got something so it’s disappointing to lose out but we have to learn to defend properly at all times.

“We know Eastwood will offer a similar challenge in the way they play so I hope we’ve learnt some lessons from the Southport game.”

Although they hadn’t threatened McMillan’s goal in the first-half, they certainly did later on when they started to dominate possession and territory.

The home keeper was beaten by a precision shot from the edge of the area from Jonny Wright which came back off the bar and McMillan produced the save of the game to deny teenager Ryan Bowman.

The substitute did ever so well to flick the ball over Adam Flynn inside he area and then hammer a first time shot to McMillan’s left, only to see the keeper go down and bloke superbly, albeit hanging-on at the second attempt.

Kyle May, who was Workington’s best player over the 90 minutes, might have had a goal too when he powered in to reach a Shaun Vipond corner, got in unchallenged but put his header wide from a good position.

It was no surprise that Workington started to create opportunities in the final half an hour because their football seemed to ruffle Southport, who previously had dealt comfortably with the high percentage of balls played up to them in the air.

Southport drew level with Fleetwood on points as a result of this victory, and a third goal would have carried them to the summit.

But apart from a scrambled save by Caig on his line and a header just wide the home side never really looked like grabbing that bonus goal which would have taken them top.

Workington do have another game before Saturday’s trip to Eastwood as they face Gillford Park on Thursday in the semi-final of the County Cup.

“A few of the lads took knocks at Southport so we won’t be risking anyone on Thursday ahead of the Eastwood game. It will be another mix and match for us with reserves and players who haven’t been getting much first team action,” said Edmondson.

STAR MAN: Kyle May – As competitive, solid and determined as ever at the back.

Reds: Caig, Langford (Hewson 68), Rowntree, May, Andrews, Vipond, McLuckie, Hopper, J. Wright (Bowman 68), Arnison, A. Wright. Subs (not used): Hindmarch, Ruttledge, Hardman.

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Referee: Paul Marsden, Lancashire

First published at 11:29, Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk