Waterston brace secures League Cup victory

With Lee Andrews absent through work commitments, player coach Gari Rowntree was in charge of team affairs with Conor Tinnion assisting.

They named a makeshift team, as did Marine, with an abundance of teenagers getting valuable experience with their respective senior side.

The upshot was a decent game which kept the sparse crowd entertained.
Waterston came close to opening the scoring but, after cutting in from the left, his shot was deflected for a corner. He was more successful with his second attempt which opened the scoring in the eleventh minute.

Jamie Mellen found Waterston down the inside left channel and he controlled the ball, turned sharply and sent a low shot inside Martin Fearon’s near post.
Neither goalkeeper had much to do throughout the first half but both became more involved after the break when the game opened up.

Tom Fowler was first into action on the restart saving well from Michael Monaghan after Niall Watson provided the assist. Then Fearon was in the spotlight at the other end dealing with a Matty Douglas header via Rob Wilson’s corner.

Sam Joel’s clever footwork created an opening but his shot was cleared off the line by Liam Razavet before Jordan Holt and Monaghan, again, sent shots wide of the target.

Marine capped a good spell with a deserved equaliser after seventy three minutes. Monaghan was desperately unlucky not to score but, when his shot rebounded off the bar, Dominic Reid converted the rebound from ten yards.

It almost got worse for Reds soon after with Monaghan breaking clear and, with only Fowler to beat, he sent his shot high over the bar and into the night sky.

But credit to Reds who battled back to claim a winner ten minutes before the end. Holt’s well measured pass released Waterston through the middle and, although his first attempt was parried by Fearon, he reacted quickly to slot home the rebound for his seventh goal of a successful personal campaign.

Reds will now travel to the Giant Axe on Tuesday week.

Workington Fowler, McLuckie (Hetherington, 46), Mellen, Douglas, Smith (Harker, 78), Wilson, Whitehead, MacDonald (Pattinson, 58), Waterston, Holt, Joel. Substitutes – Holliday, Mossop (not used).

Marine Fearon, Tongue (Wylie, 65), Razavet, Hughes, Strickland, Griffiths, Duke, Donaldson, Watson (Reid, 60), Monaghan (Smart, 88), McGrath. Substitutes – Short, Mendes (not used).

Referee Richard Holmes, Preston

Attendance 163