A last-minute goal spoiled Chris Willcock’s first game in charge of Workington Reds at Consett as the Cumbrians continued their pre-season workouts.
After an uninspiring first-half, in which they trailed to a ninth minute goal, Reds were much more intense after the change round and quickly drew level with a well-taken goal from DavSymington.
They started to dominate the game and there were opportunities but they couldn’t take them and when Consett won a last gasp corner they profited with the winning goal.
Willcock, appointed on Friday, was having his first look at the side which included three trialists in Danny Eccles, Liam Lightfoot and Priestley Griffiths.
Unless Willcock wants to add another fixture Reds, are due to complete their pre-season programme with a home game against Lancaster City on Saturday.
The new manager is hoping Borough Park will bring him better memories than one of his earliest.
He was a member of the Mossley side which lost 2-1 in the final game of the 1999 North Western Trains League season against the Reds at Borough Park.
He recalls: “I can never forget that game. We were top by a point and only needed a drawto be champions and win promotion but Workington had put together a wonderful winning run to close the gap.
“I know we were expecting them to slip-up as they played catch-up but they didn’t so it all hinged on the final game.
“Two things stand out. We were given a police escort through the town centre and at the ground the first person I saw was one of my heroes Paul Stewart signing autographs.
“There was a really big crowd and although I had the pleasure of scoring the Mossley goal it didn’t count for anything at the final whistle. It took me a long time to get over that defeat, certainly well into pre-season when we started again.
“I’m hoping those bad memories of Borough Park will be erased by what we can achieve now going forward.”
