28th July 2007, Dunston FFC 0 Workington 0, Friendly.

 

The annual "Feds v Reds" fixture ended in a typical pre-season friendly 0-0 today at Fed Park.  It was a hot afternoon with the players probably quite happy to have a blustery wind to cool things down.  Fed kicked towards the Car park with the wind in their favour.  It was a cagey start by both teams but the visitors had a penalty shout after 5 when Wayne Gordon was clumsily tackled in the area but the ref turned down their appeals.  Workington were looking more dangerous early on and after 8 minutes the Fed defence failed to clear a cross which fell to Nicholson whose effort was blocked, although from where I was it seemed to be going wide.  2 minutes later Fed were on the back foot again when full-back Gullen cut inside from the right, found Nicholson, who must have been disappointed in hitting his 20 yard effort wide.  Within a minute centre forward Carmichael collected the ball with his back to the goal and shot wide on the turn with the Fed under a bit of pressure.  Fed hit on the break and Ben Johnson's pace gave him a chance but the big centre-half Townsley blocked his effort for a corner.  After 17 minutes the latest interpretation of the offside law raised its ugly head again when Fed had a man yards offside who made no effort to play the ball allowing Chris Laws to get clear from an onside position - he tried to round the keeper but Collin (who I believe had been on trials at Hereford) snatched the ball from his feet.  The Reds (playing in white!) went straight back upfield and Gordon hit well over from 25 yds.  After 25 mins Townsley lost possession to Ludlow who spotted the keeper off his line but his 40 yard effort went wide.  It took until the 37th minute for the game's first effort on target when Ludlow's 30 yard free kick was only parried by keeper Collin who must  have been relieved to see his defence clear to safety.  The teams went in level at half-time - the visitors were playing the better possession football but clear chances were a rarity.
 
The second half started slower than the first and it took until the 55th minute before Gordon tried a long-range effort for Workington.  The closest effort of the match so far came after 57 when Mick Laws was allowed to carry the ball towards the Workington goal, passed to Johnson whose effort had the keeper beaten but went inches wide.  After 63 Kendrick cut in from the left but shot over with a cross looking the better option.  Workington swapped keepers after 66 minutes and within seconds of coming on Summersgill was forced to save from a deflected Ludlow effort.  Within a minute Fed sub Stuart Morris cut in from the right and shot dangerously across the face of the goal - Summersgill had already been in action more than his predecessor!  Fed were in danger after 70 when Nicholson got to the by-line and his cross into the danger area had to be headed clear for a corner by Pattinson.  To be honest neither side were looking like scoring but with time running out Mick Laws played in sub Swanny but the keeper was a fraction ahead of the move.  Workington then tried their luck when sub Slaughter had a 35 yd effort which was woefully off target.  To say a game "had 0-0 written all over it" is a cliche but it really applied today.   Nine second half changes did not help but that's what friendlies are for.  There were 3 keeper used and none of them had any symptoms of stress.  The shots on target column will tell its own story.  Nevertheless it was an enjoyable friendly once again played in the best of spirits. 
 
Fed:   Clark, Pickering (Burns 75), Johnson (Buzzeo 60), Robson, Taylor (Morris 53), Dunn, Cattanach, M Laws, C Laws, ( Young 60), Ludlow (Swanston 75), Pattinson (McIntosh 75)
 
Workington:   Collin (Summersgill 66), Gullen, Rowntree, May, Townsley (Johnston 72), Kendrick, Gordon, Hopper (Slaughter 63) Carmichael, Nicholson, Wright
 
(subs so numerous I reserve the right to be wrong)
 
Stats:  Attempts Fed 8 Workington 8; On target Fed 2 Workington 0; Corners Fed 4 Workington 2; Fouls committed Fed 8 Workington 4; Caught Offside Fed 2 Workington 6
 
Fed Up News Man of the Match - Ben Cattanach

 

Match Report By Mr Dave O'Neil

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