Workington manager Chris Willcock would most likely have been in charge of new recruit Donae Lawrence at Ramsbottom if he hadn’t taken the Reds job.
Lawrence, who made an eye-catching debut in the 2-0 win at Clitheroe on bank holiday Monday, had spent pre-season on trial at Ramsbottom.
Willcock explained: “One of my coaches knew him from the Huddersfield area and brought him along to training. Donae thought he was ready to make the step up.
“He never missed a training session and did well in the games he played. If I had still been there I would have been looking to sign him and I was very surprised that Rammy didn’t take him.
“I’ve seen him play centre-half, left-back and centre midfield and he’s done well. He’s 6ft 2ins and awkward to handle and I was delighted with how he did on Monday, especially as he had come in and didn’t know anyone.
“When we had more injuries on Saturday I thought we needed to bring someone in and I thought of Donae as he had gone back to Liversedge in the Eastern Counties League. Fortunately, he didn’t take much persuading.”
Reds 2-0 win at Clitheroe put them top with a 100 per cent record from four games and without a goal conceded. Yet they had gone into the game without six senior players and a seventh on the bench who was not fully fit.
Willcock said: “In my team talk before the game I said to the lads, not to be looking for excuses before we went out. We did have seven players out but there was still enough class and character in the team to win the game.
“I didn’t think Clitheroe had been tested much in the four games they had played and that we could pose problems for them.
“The response from the lads was brilliant. To a man, they gave commitment, endeavour and effort, and along with two super strikes from Dav (Symington) earned us the points. I think it could have been more than 2-0.”
Willcock has already struck up a rapport with the Reds fans, but it cost him a yellow card at Clitheroe. He was booked for celebrating with the fans after Symington had made it 2-0 to clinch the points.
One of the supporters said: “It’s great that he is showing the enthusiasm for the job at Workington. We are all in this together on and off the field and that sort of response is well-received yellow card or not.”
