Our walking football team had their final Cumberland League Premiership fixtures for 2025 on Sunday. Gretna were top of the league on 36 points ahead of Workington Reds (23 points) and Workington Blues (21 points). So, with 15 points to play for the leaders only needed to win one of their league matches. With everything to play for Gretna, Carlisle and Workington all turned out very strong sides.

Before the league games got underway, Gretna and Carlisle took on each other in the cup final. It was a very tight affair with two very strong teams competing for every ball. They pretty much cancelled each other out in the first half with very limited scoring opportunities. The second half was more of the same with a couple of chances falling to each team and it looked like it would be down to penalty kicks to settle it. Right at the death however, the imposing figure of Derek Townsley (Carlisle) took a pass right in front of goal and with a clever touch re-directed the ball into the Gretna goal.

In the league matches, Queens first game was against CARLISLE and fresh from their cup win it was the opposition who started very strongly and kept the ball well but Queens did find some rhythm and strung some good passes together. Just before half time Queens were pushing forward and good ball out from the Carlisle defence left their centre one on one with the goalkeeper. The stopper managed to get a hand on the ball and push it wide but momentum had carried him out of the box. Although the expected penalty wasn’t awarded, the short pause allowed Carlisle to score. Queens continued to drive forward and created numerous chances but failed to equalise. Overall, this was a game Queens were very unlucky to lose against a quality side.

PENRITH were next up for the Queens team and with a two-point cushion at the start of the day, it was imperative for Queens not to lose this match. With the added strength of six Annan players in their squad Penrith were a formidable side. With the referee unsure of walking football rules, it was a bit of a free for all in terms of running and barging off the ball. Queens however played some very decent football and were desperately unlucky halfway through the first half when Trevor Gillespie rifled a shot from about 15 yards that struck the crossbar and dropped down onto the goal line. With the keeper helpless the ball somehow spun back out and he was able to get hold of it. For the rest of the match the Penrith keeper was the busier of the two but it took a last ditch save by the Queens keeper’s right foot when Gerry Baxter broke through to keep the game goal-less.

Next up was WORKINGTON BLUES who had beaten Penrith five – nil in their previous match. Both teams started well with some good passing moves. Midway through the first half Workington broke through and the big No 66 rifled a shot towards the Queens’ goal which was parried away for a corner. When the ball was played in from the corner it was bobbling around on the edge of the box and the same player managed to put a foot through the ball to fire into the top corner. A few minutes later the ball broke to David Wise who struck a fierce second for Workington. the second half Queens started to get control of the passing and despite a few chances falling to Workington Neil McQuiston, from an acute angle, struck a deft left-foot shot across the keeper into the far corner of the Workington goal. Queens were now pressing and a fabulous strike from Iain Mitchell from about 15 yards out dipped fiercely and completely deceived the Workington keeper to level the match. Further pressure from Workington was dealt with by the Queens defence and the game finished in a hard-earned two all draw.

It was now the chance to play the high-flying league winners GRETNA. Queens started strongly and should have been two or three ahead at half time. They twice beat the keeper at his far corner only for the ball to come back off the inside of the post. A couple of other chances went wide or over the top but on one occasion when Iain Mitchell had broken free and about to finish, he was unceremoniously barged off the ball. A free kick was awarded but dealt with by Gretna (in Scotland it would have been a penalty and blue card for the offender). the second half Gretna made some changes and added more fire-power and were able to press the Queens team back and broke through on two occasions with men over when they were able to score twice. The game finished 2-0 in favour of the champions, but it wasn’t a reflect the effort Queens put into the match.

The final match so Queens take on WORKINGTON REDS, who were sitting second and had everything to play for to keep their place. They fielded a very strong team and despite Queens best effort they continued to press and despite some good defending they managed to score three and were worthy winners of this tie. Queens did have attempts on goal but were unable to score.

Overall the challenge to remain above Penrith (who lost all their games apart from the draw with us) was met.

The league placings for the Cumberland League Premiership were:

Gretna - 47 points
Workington Reds - 27 points
Carlisle Blues - 29 points
Workington Blues - 26 points
Queen of the South - 14 points
Penrith - 11 points