Penrith beat Workington 2-1 in last night’s Cumbrian friendly at Frenchfield – a good start to a hectic run of friendlies ahead of the new Northern League season.
Darren Edmondson’s team will be playing Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday in the build-up to their first league game on July 27 at home to Birtley Town.
For Reds it was another disappointing result, their second defeat to local opposition, although it did allow more game time for several trialists hoping to earn themselves a place in Mark Fell’s squad.
Before the game Reds had announced that central defender Tom Wilkinson, who has shown up well on trial, had agreed to join the club following his release from Preston North End.
But Wilkinson had to leave the field after 50 minutes after appearing to be winded by an accidental kick to the stomach and was replaced by Aidan Howarth.
Penrith had taken the lead on 26 minutes with a well-taken goal from former Reds forward Kingsley Grandison. The ex-Man City youth team player finished nicely into the bottom corner from 22 yards after latching onto a pull-back from Andy Murray-Jones.
Brad Hubbold was closest to an equaliser for Reds but a snap shot from the edge of the area whistled just the wrong side of the post.
Penrith put out a virtual new side for the second-half but Reds didn’t make their move to the 59th minute when Steven Rigg, Kai Nugent and Josh Galloway joined the action.
Dav Symington went close to an equaliser when put through but former Reds keeper Aaron Taylor did enough to block the shot with his legs.
A minute from the end Penrith doubled their lead when a corner seemed to strike a Workington player and ended up in the net.
There was still time for a Reds reply in the second minute of time added on when Rigg was fouled in the box and he took the spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Edmondson said: “I thought it was a good work-out for us as we were able to put out two different teams and we got game-time into the squad. We still have two or three who have been away on holiday and aren’t up to speed on fitness. These three games coming up in six days should help with that.
“Both teams had a mixture of youth and experience last night and we will have opportunities in the next three friendlies to work on things.
“We play Kirkby Stephen on Thursday at home; Kirkoswald at home on Saturday and we go to Cleator Moor Celtic next Tuesday. That will leave one training session on the Thursday and then it’s straight into the first League game at home to Birtley Town.”
Reds Development side are at home tonight to Gretna Under-20s. Kick off at Borough Park is 7.30pm.
