Recap
Based on the theory that both sides could have won this game, yet just have easily lost it, a draw was probably the right outcome leaving the two camps reasonably satisfied with their afternoon’s work.
After a first half in which Rylands created the better chances, Reds opened the scoring soon after the restart with the old warhorse, Steven Swinglehurst, becoming the seventh different scorer for Reds this term.
Josh Galloway sent over a corner and the ‘SS’, despite being pinned to the turf by his marker, managed to wrap his left foot round the ball and force it over the line. It won’t collect many votes in the ‘goal of the season’ poll but a good ploy by Reds – get the equaliser first!
This fixture has a history of finishing all square at Borough Park and, sure enough, Rylands got back on terms a quarter of an hour later and, from a Workington perspective, it appeared to be a familiar failing.
James Neild’s precise ball down the inside right channel dissected defenders Swinglehurst and Tom Wilkinson and the much-travelled Ntumba Massanka got in behind and finished with aplomb.
The centre forward brought the best out of Alex Mitchell in the first half and came within inches of heading the winner late in the game.
James Baillie was also denied by Mitchell’s agility in the first half whilst Ben Hardcastle’s shot evaded the Reds’ ‘keeper but rebounded off the far post.
Reds’ build-up play was laboured at times, and Steven Rigg was too often isolated, although it didn’t help that Ceiran Casson was forced off on the stroke of half time, Brad Hubbold was substituted in the second half and Kaedyn Kamara drifted out of the game for spells.
The introduction of Jamie Allen and Ben McCarron changed the complexion slightly and chances were created in the later stages.
David Symington narrowly missed the target from a shot in open play and via a free-kick, and was then denied what might have been the winner when Luke Pilling kept out his goal-bound shot with an excellent stop. When the ball rebounded to Rigg, the alert Pilling denied him too with another reflex save.
Rylands also hit the woodwork in the second half via a Dylan Dwyer ‘inswinger’.
There will be no respite for Reds’ threadbare squad with Blyth Spartans next up on the agenda and Mark Fell having to assess a worrying injury list before naming his team for Tuesday.
Workington: Mitchell, Galloway, Nugent, Little (Williams, 64) Swinglehurst, Wilkinson, Symington, Casson (Allen, 45), Rigg, Hubbold (McCarron, 67), Kamara. Substitutes – Beck, Eccles (not used).
Warrington Rylands: Pilling, Neild, Dwyer, Regan (Thompson, 81), Pickles, Furman, Hardcastle, Amaral, Massanka (Rooney, 90), Morris (Hough, 80), Baillie (Burns, 80). Substitute – Porter (not used).
Referee: Nicholas Whittington, Southampton
Bookings: Nugent, Wilkinson, Kamara (Workington)
Attendance: 686