Recap

Reds went toe-to-toe with an impressive Rylands team and played their part in a game which was a good advertisement for Northern Premier League football.

A closely-fought contest was decided in the seventy-seventh minute when Matt Regan powered home a header from a corner to secure the win they just about deserved.

Credit to Workington who fought to the end but just couldn’t find a way through Rylands’ watertight defence.

Probably at their best in the first half, Reds looked comfortable in and out of possession whereas they became more stretched after the break when the hosts dominated without assuming total control.

Reds best moment in the first half saw Conor Tinnion and Kitt Nelson combine well down the left culminating in the skipper delivering a cross which Kofi Moore met perfectly.  His header left Rylands’ ‘keeper, Luke Pilling, helpless but struck the crossbar.

Tinnion then broke through and with options to pass or shoot he was prevented from doing either when Regan fouled him on the edge of the area.  The skipper took the subsequent free-kick which was comfortably saved by Pilling.

Warrington created a few half chances but efforts from Adama Sidibeh, Scott Bakkor and Regan were all comfortably dealt with by Jim Atkinson.

A well worked corner routine from the visitors early in the second half saw Nelson land a shot on target but not enough to trouble Pilling.

When Rylands attacked the opposite end they won a penalty when Niall Brookwell was adjudged to have tripped Sidibeh, just inside the area.  Bakkor took the spot-kick but his attempted ‘Panenka’ hit the crossbar with the ball rebounding to safety.

Rylands’ pace up top was used to good effect but they couldn’t convert a string of decent chances.  Atkinson saving well on one occasion and more routinely three other times thwarting Javid Swaby-Neavin, Sidibeh and substitute Momodou Touray.

The match winner, unluckily for Workington, came thirteen minutes from time when Regan rose highest to head home, extending Rylands’ unbeaten league run to nine matches.

Reds battled gamely to the end but a late spell of pressure, including a few free kicks and corners, could not prize open the Warrington back line.

For much of the game, Danny Grainger’s side looked on course for their first draw of the season but the top sides always find a way to win and, once ahead, Warrington were in no mood to concede.

Lots of fine individual performances in a commendable team effort with Reds just falling short overall.

Warrington Rylands: Pilling, Smith, Swaby-Neavin, Butler, Regan, Furman, Hardcastle, Neild, Sidibeh, Hough (Piggott, 67), Bakkor (Touray,74).  Substitutes – Wilson, Baillie and Kyfein (not used).

Workington: Atkinson, Wallbank, Leslie, Wordsworth, Casson, Brookwell (McCaragher, 75), Moore K (Hubbold, 63), Nelson (Devitt, 72), Rigg, Allison, Tinnion.  Substitutes – Moore L, Bell (not used).

Referee: Thomas Smith

Bookings: Regan, Neild, Hough, Bakkor (Warrington Rylands), Brookwell, Devitt (Workington).

Attendance: 427