TT No.180: Ian Hill - Tuesday 1st Jan 2007: Blue Square North - Workington Reds 1-3 Leigh RMI;        Attendance: 406; Admission: £10; 48pp programme: £2.00; FGIF Match Rating: 3*

This New Year's Day fixture was certainly a game of contrasts.  Bottom of the table Leigh RMI travelled to Borough Park looking to do the double over Workington after sneaking a 2-1 win on Boxing Day.  If you were a betting man you would have backed them to succeed.  Workington cannot cope with long ball teams and also struggling to play in front of their hypercritical home support.   The first half was completely dominated by Workington who made Leigh look like a very poor side.  At half time they led 1-0 but it could easily have been 4 or 5 nil with the number of chances they created.  The game in the second half was completely different.  Leigh came out fighting and it was Workington defending for most of the second half.  Workington did have the chance to settle their nerves when they were awarded a penalty but subsequently the spot kick was missed.  Protests from a Leigh player resulted in him being sent off.  With 7 minutes to go Leigh equalised and this led to a near riot as the Leigh manager Steve Bleasdale (ex Peterborough United Manager and "Star" of the Big Ron - Football Manager TV series) and his substitutes goaded the Workington supporters after the goal was scored.   There was one final twist to the game as Workington went on the attack in injury time which resulted in Graham Anthony scoring with a fantastic shot to win the game.  Cue Workington supporters getting their own back at Mr Bleasdale who was now very quiet.  A word of congratulations to the match referee Mr B A Law.  At last a decent referee in Blue Square North!   Leigh trudged off the pitch and with them a loud complaint directed at the referee from a Leigh official.  This was complemented by a loud "boot against dressing room door" sound.   Borough Park is certainly showing its age but it is a great ground to watch football.  It also has an uncertain future.  Without going into to much depth it appears that the local council have sold a piece of land near to the ground to Tesco's.  A local opposition group are claiming that the land is owned by the people of Workington and therefore it cannot be sold.  They are also trying to get a "Village Green" preservation order on the land which is basically a car park with a dog toilet walking area.   The land was sold for £18 million with the council wanting to build a new stadium and sports facilities on the site.  The stadium would replace Borough Park and Derwent Park, the stadium of Workington Town RLFC which is across the road.  Both clubs would share the stadium which would be run by a private company.  Workington Town RLFC seem to be 100% in favour while the football club do not want to share. They are worried that they will have no income from the stadium (bars, food) etc.  They would rather that both clubs be given £2m each to refurbish their grounds.  So we are in a wait and see scenario.   The Reds have purchased new floodlights from Darlington's Feethams Ground.  The pylons and lights are in storage as the council will not give them planning permission to erect them due to complaints from residents of a nearby estate.  They already have floodlights and pylons so what is the problem ?

contributed on 27/01/08