Recap
For the second home game in a row, Reds were held to a 1-1 draw with the general consensus, on this occasion, that a point apiece was a fair outcome.
In terms of chances, Reds probably created more yet Leek won the corner count comfortably, whereas the possession percentages were similar and, of the two goalkeepers, it was Town’s South African Dino Visser who had the slightly busier afternoon.
So, an even contest with the goals coming from two players who regularly ‘feature’ in the NPL’s hypothetical ‘team of the season’ – Town’s Oliver Harrison and Reds’ skipper, Dav Symington.
It was Harrison who opened the scoring with a goal that could easily have come from the Symington portfolio. Reds had cleared the original cross but Harrison, steadied himself and, for a big man, turned swiftly and arrowed a fine shot into the far bottom corner of Alex Mitchell’s net.
That was after nineteen minutes and it was an advantage the Staffordshire side held until the half-hour mark. Workington’s leveller obviously pleased the home support but also gave immense satisfaction to manager, Mark Fell, because the goal came as the result of a ‘press’ from his front three – exactly how he wants that trio to operate.
Jamie Allen’s pace won him the ball, it was moved onto Steven Rigg and the latter’s deft pass gave Dave Symington the chance to end his frustrating goal drought with his first in the league since March.
Prior to those well taken goals, both Rigg and Symington had shots on target from distance but neither troubled Visser whilst a header from Harrison at the other end was comfortably held by Mitchell.
Soon after the restart, Leek’s Brendon Daniels sent a header crashing against the crossbar, after he met a cross from the left, and Workington’s response, in their next attack, saw an angled drive from Symington also skim the woodwork.
The two sides then cancelled each other out for a period with both defences dealing with whatever came their way.
But Reds regained a modicum of an advantage in the later stages and Symington, twice, Kai Nugent and Josh Galloway all had efforts at goal, three of which lacked the accuracy and the other wasn’t struck firmly enough.
We then saw a dramatic piece of play which almost produced a last-gasp decider. Rigg somehow swivelled and managed to direct a volley towards the net but the ball, probably at the right height for a ‘keeper, was pushed away to safety by Visser’s big hands.
Newcomer Kaedyn Kamara produce an energetic ninety-minute display while two of the longer serving stalwarts, Ceiran Casson and Brad Hubbold – vying with each other for that other central midfield berth – both made positive contributions.
Workington: Mitchell, Galloway, Nugent (Stephenson, 68), Williams, Swinglehurst (Fell, 72), Wilkinson, Symington, Casson (Hubbold, 68), Rigg, Allen, Kamara. Substitutes – McCarron, Eccles (not used).
Leek Town: Visser, Buckley, Edwards, Okome (Green, 67), Harrison, Curl, Hurst, Reeves, Grice (Woolley, 75), Shenton (Webster, 80), Daniels (Onyeka, 57). Substitute – Weir (not used).
Referee: Alex Clark, Sunderland
Booking: Curl (Leek Town)
Attendance: 591