Hebburn Town suffered defeat for the first time this season away at Workington AFC on Bank Holiday Monday, in the NPL Premier Division. Goals from Jamie Allen and substitute Ben McCarron completed a late, second half turnaround for the hosts.

Two changes were made from Saturday’s draw with Basford United, as Dan Groves and Daniel Moore replaced Liam Murray and the injured Joe Posthill.

As the game kicked off, the Hornets were immediately on the backfoot, and the first chance went the way of Workington in the third minute. Yestin Shakespear found himself in space on the edge of the box and decided to fire towards goal, but the attempt wasn’t sweet and sailed over Kieran Hunter’s crossbar.

Penalty shouts then arrived from the Hornets in the seventh minute. Olly Martin thought he had been brought down in the area whilst looking to get on the end of Liam Noble’s cross, but the referee immediately waved away the claims.

Then, it was Workington’s turn to appeal for a spot kick minutes later. A coming together between Michael Turner and Reds attacker Steven Rigg caused controversy in the box, but once again, the referee shrugged off the complaints to award a free-kick the opposite way.

In the thirteenth minute, a great chance fell the way of Bailey Adamson. The forward latched onto Robbie Spence’s long ball from midfield, but was unable to convert the chance from close range as the shot went high and over the bar. A first opportunity on the Workington goal for the visitors.

The Reds were given a free-kick opportunity just outside the Hebburn box. Allen stepped up, fired straight into the wall, and claims for handball were immediately cleared.

Another set-piece was then awarded to Workington,
and Tom Devitt was penalised for handball. Allen fired into the wall once more.

Martin was then the first to go into the referee’s book, as he was shown a yellow card for a foul on Josh Galloway. It seemed that Hebburn’s lack of time on the ball was starting to frustrate them, and the hosts continued to draw fouls. The free kick was swung towards the back post, but evaded everyone and out it went.

In the twenty-second minute, the first goal of the game went to Hebburn. Noble played a lofted ball over the top of the defence for Adamson, and he made sure to slot the ball under goalkeeper, Alex
Mitchell, for the lead and his first goal in Hebburn colours. The Hornets had been second best for the majority of the half, but they held the advantage.

The goal seemed to do the lads’ confidence the world of good. A link-up between Noble, Martin and Heywood resulted in nothing, but there were promising signs for the Hornets to build on. As the clock edged towards a first half close, Hebburn were finally starting to get a feel for the game. In the fortieth minute, Devitt executed a cross towards Moore, but the defender was there to head the ball away for a corner. Play was then stopped as Martin felt pain in his knee, and received treatment.

The forward was able to continue. A first change of the game came in the forty-fourth minute. Goalscorer, Adamson, rolled his ankle and no extra risks were needed to be taken. Murray replaced him.

Another controversial decision went in favour of Workington in first-half stoppage time. Devitt slipped and collided with the attacker, so the referee blew for a foul and Devitt was shown a yellow card, a totally baffling decision. Spence was also booked for
descent. Shortly after that fiasco, the whistle was blown for half-time.

Neither side opted for a change during the interval and Workington began the half in search of an equaliser. The Reds won a free kick in the forty-ninth minute, following a foul on Kai Nugent. Kaedyn Kamara’s effort was on target, but comfortable for Hunter to catch.

A first change for the hosts came in the fifty-fourth minute. Shakespear made way for Brad Hubbold. A couple minutes later, Workington started to ramp up the pressure. Allen was on the end of another cross, but he could only head wide of the post.
The forward was inches away from levelling the game.

The second half became scrappy as the referee would just not allow the game to flow. The Reds were awarded another set-piece in the sixty-sixth minute. Galloway’s delivery to the far post found Tom Wilkinson, and the defender cannoned his effort of the top of the crossbar. Hebburn knew they had to score a second goal soon as the hosts were looking dangerous.

Noble then attempted an audacious effort to lob Mitchell from third-five yards, but the ball sailed wide and came to no trouble.

In the sixty-fourth minute, a long throw into the box from Turner was cleared only as far as Murray who volleyed towards goal, but the shot deflected into the gloves of the ‘keeper. Hebburn then decided to make their second change in the sixty-seventh minute, as Martin made way for Leo Robinson. Workington also chose for fresh legs from the bench as McCarron and Steven Swinglehurst replaced
Tom Stephenson and Jordan Little.

The hosts were finally able to find their equaliser in the seventy-ninth minute. Galloway’s low cross into the six-yard box was met by Allen, who slotted past Hunter to level the score at one-all. A deserved goal for Workington as the Hornets were left to rue
missed chances.

Just four minutes later, the game was turned upside down and Workington hit a quickfire double. Turner was penalised for a foul throw and the hosts wasted no time in trying to find a winner. Once again, Galloway’s cross from the right-hand side caused problems for Hebburn, as the ball sailed past everyone to the back post, and McCarron was there to fire a strike into an empty net. A devastating blow for the Hornets. A third change for Hebburn came in the eighty-fourth minute as Alfa Djalo replaced
Devitt.

Things then went from bad to worse for the away side as Spence was shown a second yellow card by the referee, following a foul on Galloway. The resulting free-kick was saved by Hunter.

As the clock ticked towards the ninetieth minute, Hebburn were in desperate need of a lifeline, but the hosts were adamant on using game management by playing the ball into the corner to make sure of the victory.

The full-time whistle blew and Workington managed to inflict a first league defeat on the Hornets. They won’t have much time to dwell on this though, as they return to Borough Park on Saturday afternoon, seeking revenge in the First Round Qualifying of the
FA Cup.

Man of the Match: Aidan Heywood

Match Attendance: 812

By Dan Carlton