Andrew’s Match Preview
Colne v Workington
Holt House
NPL West
Tuesday 28th March - 19:45
Colne welcome Cumbrian outfit Workington to Holt House for a rearranged evening league game in the NPL West.
Workington, nicknamed the Reds, were founded in 1921 and their home ground is Borough Park. Their average attendance this season is 724, the second highest in the league; boosted by a 1670 gate against leaders Macclesfield last month. Last season Workington finished 2nd in the league with 84 points, but were beaten in the play-off semi-final 2-3 by Marine. In the head to head with Colne last term, Workington won both games with a 3-0 win at Holt House in November, thanks to goals from Tinnion (2) and Symington, and 2-0 in the home fixture, with Symington getting on the goal sheet once more and Carroll getting the 2nd.
This season Workington have 63 points from 32 games, winning 19, drawing 6, and losing 7, and they currently sit in 3rd place. Away from home they have beaten Ramsbottom 3-0, Bootle 1-0, Hanley Town 2-1, Glossop 3-0, Skelmersdale United 2-1, Newcastle Town 1-0, Trafford 2-1, Mossley 3-1, Leek Town 1-0 and Runcorn Linnets 3-1. In the FA Cup, Workington won 7-0 away at West Allotment Celtic in the preliminary round before being knocked out 2-3 away at South Shields. They lost at the first stage of the FA Trophy, losing 1-2 at home to Runcorn Linnets. The Cumbrian Reds won their last home game last Saturday, comfortably seeing off Glossop North End 3-0 with a goal from Scott Allison and a brace from Dav Symington. In their last away game they were surprisingly beaten by City of Liverpool 3-0.
Workington players to watch - 29 year old Dav Symington began his career at Carlisle United representing them 68 times in the EFL. The midfielder/winger is one of the best players in the division and he joined Workington 7 years ago from Barrow. David has scored 14 times this season in all competitions.
35 year old attacker Scott Allison is the in-form scorer in the league, netting 10 goals in his last 12 games. The veteran missed much of last season through injury, but has 13 goals to his credit this term. He is in his 11th season with the club.
Reuben Jerome is in his third season at Borough Park after joining from Ramsbottom United. The attacking player has also had spells at Brighouse Town and Warrington Town and has contributed 10 goals so far this campaign.
Centre-half Dan Wordsworth is in his 11th season with the club. Dan has made 32 appearances for the Reds this season and around 300 since he joined. He originally signed from Kendal Town after earlier being on the books at Carlisle United.
32 year old skipper Conor Tinnion operates anywhere in the middle of the park. Another product of Carlisle United, Conor is in his 13th season with the club with almost 400 appearances all told and 31 this term.
Another forward Steven Rigg is in his 2nd spell at the club. Steven has experience in the EFL with Carlisle United and has several clubs on his CV including Queen of the South, Barrow, Chorley, Gateshead and Dover Athletic. The 30 year old has 5 goals in 33 involvements this season.
Lewis Reilly joined in the summer from Marine after previous spells with Chorley and gaining EFL experience at Crewe Alexandra. The 23 year old striker has scored 8 times so far this season:.
Goalkeeper for the NPL West team of the year for 21/22, Jim Atkinson is the Cumbrian Reds number 1. Previously with Queen of the South and Gretna, the 28 year old once scored a goal and saved a penalty in the same game.
Workington are managed by Carlisle United legend Danny Grainger, who replaced Chris Wilcock last May. Danny was previously the Workington boss from 2019-2021, but left to become assistant manager at Falkirk.
Last time out for the Reds - The Reds travelled to Sefton in Merseyside to take on Bootle on Saturday. A back to basics more conventional formation saw 4 changes to the side that lost to Newcastle Town in their last game. In defence, Harry Winstanley moved over to replace the injured Ben Anderson at left-back, Finley Devenney made his debut at centre-half and Tom Fagan came in for Ellis Wallbank at right-back. In the middle, Edward Elewa-Ikpakwu debuted in place of Matty Kardacz and Danny Kyobe was given a rare start up front in place of the out going Craig Carney.
The Reds were on the front foot from the first whistle and were rewarded after only 3 minutes, when a cross from Winstanley from the left was met by the head of Kyobe, which looped over the outcoming keeper to give Colne the lead. After the frantic start both sides settled down and gave each other as good as they got for the remainder of the half. Both teams came out firing in the 2nd 45; Colne trying to put the game to bed and Bootle desperate for an equaliser. A hamstring issue saw Luke Stowe replaced by new winger Malick Diakite, as the Reds contained their precious lead until the home side cranked up the pressure midway through the half.
New Bucks manager Dave McNabb made 3 changes with 20 minutes remaining and one of those subs, the Brazilian attacker Nivaldo, took only 5 minutes to restore parity, when his back flick header beat Burton in the Colne goal. As may have been the case in previous games the Reds didn’t settle for the point and immediately took the game back to the Bucks. They were rewarded just 4 minutes later when a superbly worked goal gave Colne a 2-1 advantage. Harry Winstanley started the move with a pass down the wing to the energetic Danny Kyobe, he held the ball up long enough for Winstanley to over-lap then back flicked the return, Harry found skipper Owen Watkinson with his back to goal on the edge of the box and despite Jay McCarten having a handful of his shirt, Owen held him off and superbly turned and right-footed the ball past the static keeper into the corner of the net. Tom McCann replaced Lucas Weaver late on as the Reds saw out the game well and deservedly collected the 3 points.
Harry Winstanley was influential back in his more familiar left side role and earned 2 assists, Owen Watkinson lead the line well once again and scored a decisive winner and Finley Devenney marshalled the back 4 excellently on his debut at step 4, but Danny Kyobe deserved the man of the match with his energy, perseverance, 1st goal for the club and deft flick to set up the winner.
This 3rd away win of the season saw the Reds move up a place to 17th with 34 points from 32 games, just 2 points behind Hanley Town in safety.
Who’s on Ashh’s couch? - Ben Anderson will miss out once again with a niggling groin strain.
Jack Doherty is recovering from surgery on his ACL injury and will begin his rehabilitation when ready, under the watchful eye of Accrington Stanley. This injury has ruled him out for the season.
Team news - As expected Glenn Steel has left the club and signed for Bamber Bridge veterans. It would be no surprise if Paul Weller named an unchanged side after debutants Finley Devenney and Edward Elewa-Ikpakwu impressed at Bootle. Luke Stowe came off with a slight hamstring pull on Saturday, but it was more cautionary so he’s expected to be fit. Young winger Malick Diakite looked a real handful when he came off the bench at the weekend and he’ll be pushing for his first start for the Reds.
Workington arrive at Holt House having won 10 of their 15 away league games this season, including 4 of their last 5. They had a very comfortable 3-0 victory over Glossop North End last Saturday, but were beaten 0-3 at City of Liverpool in their last away fixture, which was an uncharacteristic poor performance. They have a very mean defence, conceding only 31 goals in 32 games, which is the 2nd best record in the league. Dav Symington is their talented creator and is especially dangerous at set-pieces with his lethal right foot. Centrally they are very strong, controlled by skipper Conor Tinnion and they have an abundance of options up front.
Colne have lost just once at home since last October. That loss came in their last home game against Newcastle Town, when despite winning 1-0 through an Owen Watkinson goal with 1 minute left on the clock, they contrived to concede twice before the final whistle. That result proved to be the last game in charge for coach Phil Brown and ex-Burnley midfielder Paul Weller has taken interim charge of the Reds.
His positive approach in his first game last Saturday, brought about Colne’s first away win since November, with a 2-1 victory at Bootle. Colne’s record at home this season facing a top 6 side is 2 draws, against Macclesfield and Witton Albion, and 2 wins, over Clitheroe and Runcorn Linnets, with Leek Town still to come. Any positive result against a talented side hoping to go one better than last year and gain promotion, will be a great yardstick for the season run-in, but it’s nothing the Lancashire Reds haven’t accomplished already on several occasions this season. Skipper Owen Watkinson will be hoping to take early advantage by winning the coin toss and giving the home side every chance of gaining a positive result.
Admission Prices are:
Adults - £9
Concessions - £6
Under 16’s - £2
Under 12’s - Free
Colne Football Club
Holt House
Harrison Drive
Colne
Lancs
BB8 9SJ
Upcoming games
Sat 1st April - Colne v Ramsbottom United - 15:00 NPL West
Sat 8th April - Colne v Widnes - 15:00 NPL West
Mon 10th April - Clitheroe v Colne - 15:00 NPL West
Tonight’s other NPL West game - 19:45
Leek Town v Mossley