New manager, new era, new signing – new hope for Workington Reds.
In danger of being cut adrift, two successive wins and put a different complexion on the relegation zone.
Billy Barr took charge of the Reds for the first time today and oversaw their first home win of the season.
It wasn’t the perfect performance, because 10 men of Hyde made it much tighter and nerve wracking than it should have been.
But they got over the line to back up last week’s win at Stockbridge and cut the deficit to safety to just two points.
As well as the vital win, there was cause to feel pleased too at the excellent attendance of 869, backing Reds fight to climb the table.
There was also a pat on the back for Barr over his first signing choice.
In for his debut was a former Blacburn youngster Tyler Magloire who had played while Barr was head of youth with Rovers.
Magloire has not played a full game for two months and is without a club after being released at the end of last season by League One side Northampton Town.
Magloire had an impressive debut in the centre of defence alongside the excellent Jordan Little.
Overall, though, what seemed like a comfortable win on the hour turned into a nervous finish as ten men Hyde stayed in the contest.
Jack Dickinson had headed the home side in front on 13 minutes when he was first to get on the end of a Josh Galloway corner.
It was fizzed in from the left and Dickinson was at the far post to score from close range.
It stayed at 1-0 until four minutes into the second half when Dan Hopper doubled the home lead, heading in a Kai Nugent cross.
Then when Hyde keeper Yusuf Measin was sent off on the hour for bringing down Nugent as he raced clear, it looked all over for the visitors. Centre back Harry Ditchfield came off the bench to take over in goal.
He showed his capabilities right away when he held onto a dangerous free kick from Galloway.
Hyde then grabbed a lifeline on 73 minutes when Lewis Rawsthorn scored after a goalmouth scramble in which home keeper Alex Mitchell had made a fine save and Dickinson had headed off the line.
Back came Workington to regain their two goal cushion on 83 minutes when captain Steven Rigg turned in a downward header from Dickinson after he had been first to reach a corner.
But Hyde again struck through Rawsthorn three minutes from time with a spectacular finish and he then missed a great chance to level by heading over from close range.
In the end Workington saw it through to give Barr a winning start in front of their grateful fans who had certainly lifted the atmosphere inside Borough Park.
Rigg, as usual led by example; Little and Magloire formed a highly promising partnership in central defence; Luke Ellis and Nugent were busy and generally the effort and determination from the whole side will have delighted Barr.
- Hyde received a second red after the game. Tom Pratt, who had been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow after an incident in the tunnel while leaving the field.
Listen to Barr’s verdict on the game below:
