Senhouse Street didn’t fancy their chances against Salterbeck in the latest round of Workington Sunday League matches.
They had to throw in a raw 17-year-old and bring back a 48-year-old defender midst a string of changes as various key players were unavailable.
It was even joked beforehand they could call it a draw and watch the football on the tv in the club over a pint!
But the stand-ins responded superbly and they collected three valuable points with an exciting 3-2 win – although Salterbeck had to play for 70 minutes with ten men.
Senhouse took the lead with a fine goal from Declan Moore who was 25 yards out when he spotted the keeper off his line and lifted a shot over him for the opener.
Salterbeck then lost Brad Newall on 20 minutes, sent off for violent conduct but limited their hosts to the one goal lead at half-time.
However, two quick goals for Senhouse in the 50th and 55th minutes gave them more breathing space.
Ryan Kellett scored with a long-range effort to make it 2-0 and when the Salterbeck keeper misjudged a long throw from Moore, it was Kellett again who scored from a simple tap-in.
To their credit Salterbeck fought back and Charlieb Shaw netted their first before Max Litt added a second with a deflected shot.
There were some anxious moments before the final whistle but Senhouse held-on for a great win.
A victory would have put Salterbeck third in the table but they currently lie fifth, six points and two places better off than Senhouse.
The two leading sides, Northside and Blue Bell didn’t play at the week-end so that gave the chasers a chance to close the gap.
Maryport Athletic and Deer Orchard are third and fourth and both had important victories over teams from Aspatria’s Sun Inn.
Maryport Athletic beat the first team 7-0 while Deer Orchard edged the Sun Inn Athletic side 3-2.
Ciaran Laverty (3), Joe Hetherington, Macaulay Sharp, Jack Pears and Dean Scholey scored for Maryport Athletic.
In a tight game at Wakefield Road it was Orchard who edged it with goals from Joe Palmer, Ben Wright and Luke Graham after leading 2-0 at the break.
Sun Inn Athletic were very much in the contest with goals from Daniel Dobson and Luke Day.
Dearham Commercial scored twice in each half to beat Rangers FC 4-0.
Jack Brown, Attlee Skillen, Jason Ackerley and Taylor Manchester scored the goals.
The Workington League have two sides left in the County Cup and they will be bidding to make progress on Sunday in the quarter finals.
League champions Northside travel to Brampton while Dearham Commercial are at Denton Holme.
Two Egremont League sides also have County Cup dates, both with home ties.
Egremont Cosmos entertain holders Inter Pirelli while Lowca Pirates host Scotby.
In the Workington Sunday League Blue Bell will look to go top when they entertain Salterbeck while the other League encounter should be a cracker as third-in-the-table Maryport Athletic entertain fourth-placed Deer Orchard.
The one League Cup-tie should be tasty, too, as it’s the Aspatria derby between Sun Inn and Sun Inn Athletic.
