Workington AFC

Borough Park, home of Workington AFC based in Cumbria and play their trade in Step 4 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Premier League Division One West.

A former Football League club believe it or not and also managed by Bill Shankly! We all remember what he achieved later on after his time in charge of Workington! The club sadly weren’t in the Football League for long as my good friend Stefan put it as a club who had a huge fanbase backing them because they weren’t good enough.

This is a ground that has been on my radar for a LONG time and with no coaching duties for me this morning I can have a long drive out somewhere. There are also murmurs of a ground move with this club so I don’t want to chance it, I’m taking the long drive up north today!

Workington face another former League club today in Macclesfield FC who are well on their way back to the Football League after restarting a few years ago and sit top of the Northern Premier League currently with Workington in third place. This could be a meaty fixture indeed!

So onto the A1 and off at Scotch Corner to the A66. It’s a long one but a beautiful drive at that! Past Penrith AFC for the second time, I owe them a visit soon! All the way to the coastline and here I am all parked up with about 2 and a half hours to go before kick off.

Into the ticket office for today’s game. £11 to watch this Northern Premier League tie! Pricey! But a very friendly receptionist who also let me have a little glance at the Shankly lounge before entering the ground!

Through the turnstiles I go and a quick lap of the ground and some empty pics below.

Plenty of time to kill now though so into the Hopper Bar for some grub. Pie and chips by the seaside? That should be a treat… Oh yes it was! But for £6.20 I’ll think again next time maybe…

Time rolls on and the bar is filling up fast and the game is drawing ever closer. Segregation is in place and the atmosphere is starting to build! “Oh Maccy Maccy! Maccy Maccy Maccy Maccy Macclesfield!”

The players are ready to come out! The Z Cars song echoes around the ground and out they come! A promotion battle is about to commence, who dares wins?!

Kick Off! 5 minutes in and Macclesfield break down the right, it’s played in to Dan Sweeney in the box who’s in, he takes a touch… And he’s scuffed it wide… Big chance already there! Should be a goal for Macclesfield!

“Workington La la la! Workington La la la!” Workington fans in great spirits so far and a few jibes thrown at the Macclesfield fans across the fence but the same thrown back at the Workington fans from them.

19th minute and Workington lose the ball in their own half and Alex Curran is in for Macclesfield… He’s scored! First blood to Macclesfield! You can’t give the ball away like that! It’s getting ugly here… Beer and other things thrown… 0-1!

37 minutes gone and Macclesfield down the left, it’s crossed in, Neil Kengni is there at the far post to play it back across for Dan Sweeney who might get there… But he doesn’t get there and Workington clear.

41 minutes now and Workington play down the right, it’s crossed in, Connor Tinnion gets his body to it… But it’s straight at the keeper! At half time it remains 1-0 to Macclesfield and the half time scenes here are getting really ugly now between the 2 sets of fans…

Second half, 49th minute and Workington give the ball away just outside their own box and Alex Curran is played through in the box on the right, he shoots… Saved! Workington haven’t learned their lesson! It is a corner for Macclesfield, it’s whipped in… The keeper catches.

3 minutes later and it’s a free kick to Macclesfield from around 30 yards out in a good shooting position, Alex Curran to take, he shoots… He hits the wall but it comes for Tre Pemberton to strike from range… Well wide!

“We’re on our way we’re on our way! To the football league we’re on our way!” The Macclesfield fans are believing now!

67 minutes on the clock and Workington have it at the back, it’s played back to the keeper by Ceiran Casson… OH DEAR! The keeper has missed it… OH! And it’s rolled just wide of the post! So close! Nearly a Taxi moment there… Corner for Macclesfield and here it comes… Cleared by Workington.

The game rolls on and you have to say that Macclesfield really do look comfortable in defence but as you know in football it only takes one lapse in concentration! Can Workington find that all important equaliser here?

87th minute and Workington’s Kai Nugent is fouled! Oh dear Kane Drummond has lashed out at him there! They’re all involved! Ugly scenes on the pitch now here! Beer thrown from the fans! Has to be a red for Drummond! Referee consults with his assistant, Yellow Card for Workington’s Charlie Birch for the melee and a Yellow Card for Kane Drummond for Macclesfield… He had to go there for me!

Into added time now and Macclesfield have the ball in their own half… A late challenge there by Sam Smith for Workington… And he’s off! Red Card! Poor challenge there to be fair.

Play goes on… Macclesfield stop the Workington attack on the left and hit it away, the Macclesfield manager has interfered there… Or someone from the Macclesfield bench did! The linesman is talking to the referee here… It’s a Red Card! Wow!

Macclesfield hit it upfield… And that’s it! It’s a massive win for Macclesfield!! Step 3 is beckoning for them next season! Workington just not quite good enough in the final third today! Look how much it means for the Macclesfield fans!

FT: Workington 0-1 Macclesfield

Ratings

• Atmosphere: 9/10 – Brilliant from both sets of fans! Macclesfield probably only just edging it out of the 2 but it always helps when you’re winning!
• The Ground: 10/10 – This is an absolutely incredible ground! Absolutely love it!!! I’d say this is my second favourite as I still do love Bath City’s ground but the terrace behind that goal is to die for! It’s an easy National League ground and probably borderline League 2 but it’s just beautiful!
• Expense: 6/10 – £53 on fuel… £11 to get in, £8 for food and drink and £8 for pin badges, was it worth it? I’ll take it for what it was! A tense game with drama but still an awful lot…
• Overall Experience: 9/10 – Really enjoyed today! I’m so glad to finally see this amazing ground! I got a decent game with it as well!

34/40