[T]he final sixteen in the Cumberland FA’s Senior County Cup have almost been decided, with the draw pitting National League Two’s Carlisle United against the Evo Stik Northern Premier Division’s Workington Reds, the current champions. Carlisle City had already gone through, with a 4-2 win over Keswick FC.
There were a three mid-week fixtures and three Saturday fixtures in the Second Round to sort out the last sixteen, and in what looked like a very mismatched tie, another Carlisle side, Crown Newlaithes, the new boys in the Smurfit Kappa Cumberlabnd County League’s Division One, were up against Penrith AFC from the Ebac Northern League Division One. Crown Newlaithes put up a spirited performance and can surely return home with their heads held high, but Penrith went through with a 4-0 win.
Matty Moynan opened the scoring for the Bonny Blues, and all credit to Newlaithes, this was the only goal in the first half. In the second half, Connor Shields got the second from close range, Chris Wraighte scored the third from the penalty spot after a foul on Shields, and Shaun Gardner headed in the fourth and final goal.
Penrith, now managerless after the weekend resignation of Jim Nichols after another league defeat, face another Smurfit Kappa Cumberland League side in in Round Three, this time Premier Division outfit Cockermouth, and this match will be at Grassmoor, Strawberry Howe, in Cockermouth.
In the other Wednesday night Round Two match, Windscale beat Carleton Banks Football Club 3-0 with the goals from Darren Donald on the hour, Lewis Jolly (on 66 mins) and Luke Smith (on 71 mins). But hats off to Carleton Banks: the Westmorland Division Two Soccermoos were playing a team several steps above them in the League Pyramid – and held Windscale to 0-0 at half time.
On Thursday evening Workington Reds won 5-2 against neighbours Whitehaven AFC, with a squad that included the returning Lamin Cham (who was injured in a match against Whitehaven) and the re-signed Phil McLuckie.
Matty Douglas opened the scoring for the Reds on 10 minutes with a headed goal from a Rob Wilson corner, and Sam Joel made it 2-0 on 30 minutes after picking up a massive Douglas clearance. With Cham having to retire, and substitute Cam Harker taking his place, Joel then added a third Reds goal, side footing in from a Cam Carter cross, and, despite increasing Whitehaven pressure on Tom Fowler’s goal, that man Joel made it 4-0 on 45 minutes from the penalty spot for his hat trick.
Two quick Whitehaven goals on 65 minutes from Kevin Holliday, who capitalised in a dropped corner with a close range shot, and on 66 minutes from Nathan Dryden made it 4-2. But it was all over when Joel got his fourth and the Reds fifth from a James Earl pass on 71 minutes. Even with Whitehaven ‘keeper Stuart Pettitt dismissed with ten minutes to go after handling the ball outside of the box, that was the last of the goals and the final scoreline was 5-2, and the Reds earned a peach of a draw against Carlisle United in the Third Round.
At the weekend Cumberland County League side Netherhall had a useful 2-0 win over Westmorland League Division two side Castletown United, with Riley Short and Gary Pearson on the scoresheet for the Maryport side, who now face another Westmorland League side from Penrith, Diviison One’s Wetheriggs United, in the next round. And finally, Northbank won out 4-1 over Gosforth to earn a tie with Windscale. The fixture between Braithwaite and Whitehaven Miners was again postponed with a waterlogged pitch at Braithweaite. The winners will meet Cleator Moor Centic.
CUMBERLAND FA SENIOR COUNTY CUP ROUND 3 FIXTURES. Games to be played on or by 04.11.17 with a 13.30 Saturday kick off (unless indictated otherwise)
Braithwaite or Whitehaven Miners v Cleator Moor Celtic
Aspatria v Carlisle City
Wetheriggs United v Netherhall
Windscale v Northbank (TBC)
Cockermouth v Penrith AFC
Pirelli v Alston Moor
Carlisle United Football Club v Workington Reds (TBC)
Eden Thistle v Workington Athletic (11.11.17)
