Hunger and desire earns Reds Trophy victory

That ‘something’, first and foremost, would be to avoid a relegation scrap and attain a top half finish in the league, while tagging on another Trophy run would be a morale-boosting bonus.

There was a hunger and desire from the first whistle and, even after a conceding an equaliser, Reds’ character shone through at Bower Fold as they progressed to the First Round proper of the FA Trophy.

Coming just a week after the shambolic defeat by Grantham Town, this has to be judged as the performance of the season, such was the contrast in attitude. But it also illustrated that luck does play a part in most games – none existent last week but a huge slice of the same against Celtic.

The back four were ridiculed after conceding four sloppy goals in their previous outing but, to a man, they were magnificent and superbly led by the outstanding Gari Rowntree – the skipper was inspirational.

A mobile, workmanlike midfield quartet ahead of them, with the central pairing of Conor Tinnion and Niall Cowperthwaite covering every inch of this neatly manicured pitch, also played a part with Scott Allison and Jason Walker very effective together up front.

But tactics, formations, systems and varying styles of play count for nothing if the attitude is not right and that one ingredient was there in abundance on this occasion.

Reds opened the scoring after nine minutes with Tinnion’s accurate assist releasing Allison down the middle. Controlling the ball and turning in one swift movement, he sent a low shot into the bottom corner of Jake Turner’s net.

The lead was short lived with Celtic restoring parity in bizarre circumstances. Taylor’s attempted clearance rebounded off Josh Calvert and conveniently into Chris Sharp’s path. He promptly dispatched the ball into the vacant net for the sixteenth-minute leveller.

Luck came to Reds aid soon after when Scott Bakkor appeared to get beyond Sam Smith who hand-tripped his opponent. The referee opted for a yellow card for Smith, others might have produced a red, and Celtic wasted the subsequent free kick.

The advantage was restored mid-way through the half when referee Dale Baines, brother of the Everton player, Leighton, pointed to the spot after Danny Brady’s challenge left Walker in a heap. Allison converted in style for what proved to be the winning goal.

Another touch of fortune saw Reds survive a Celtic attack just before the interval. Michael Clarke’s looping header, via Liam Tongue’s free kick, clipped the top of the crossbar.

Celtic were reduced to ten men on the hour when Glenn Rule clattered into Smith with the referee administering the red card as immediate punishment. It was a worrying moment for Smith who has just returned to the team after an injury sustained at Stalybridge earlier in the season.

Thankfully, the defender recovered quickly and, soon after, confirmed his well being with a wonderful goal-saving tackle on Sharp.
There were opportunities to extend the lead but long-range efforts from Tinnion and Walker, twice, were dealt with comfortably by Turner with substitute Sam Joel unable to convert a decent chance just before the end.

There was a hint of relief in joint boss Lee Andrews’ post-match summary of a good afternoon’s work, “The pleasing thing today was the character they showed after we conceded the equaliser, the fact that they didn’t step back, remained positive, got the penalty and eventually the win they deserved.”

Stalybridge Celtic Turner, Tongue, Soloman-Davies (Kengni, 77), Smalley, Brady, Clarke, Bakkor, Rule, Sharp, Wolfenden (Dent, 60), Wilkinson (Caton, 66). Substitutes – Brown, Winterbottom (not used).

Workington Taylor, Smith, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Calvert, Cowperthwaite, Holt (Paterson, 82), Maguire (Hubbold, 63), Walker, Allison (Joel, 72), Tinnion. Substitutes – Mossop, Hetherington (not used).

Referee Dale Baines, Liverpool

Bookings: Smith, Wordsworth, Holt (Workington)

Red card: Rule (Stalybridge Celtic)

Attendance 344