Recap

Going into the interval with a healthy lead, Reds – like the weather and the conditions – deteriorated in the second half and returned back up the A595 pointless.

They were 3-1 ahead at the break and looked good to end a barren run of five County League matches without a win, only to collapse in the final half hour and gift-wrap the points to the home side.

Gosforth made a great start and forced Scott Paden-Gale into two fine saves inside the opening minute.  But it was Reds who opened the scoring in this mistake-ridden contest.

Tom Houghton did well on the right flank and his low cross was side-footed home by Matty Foster to give Reds a sixth minute lead.  They doubled their advantage mid-way through the first half with Houghton again providing the assist from the right and Carl Lightfoot finishing well from the edge of the box.

Sam Tallentire reduced the arrears with a close range finish in the fortieth minute but Reds restored their two goal advantage immediately with an excellent goal from Foster.  The striker controlled the ball, got past two defenders and side-footed home from the edge of the area leaving Lee Jolly helpless.

It was a different story after the break and Gosforth, playing down the slope, started to dominate.  Luck was probably against them when shots from acute angles rattled first the crossbar and then the post but four goals swung the game in their favour – including three in a ten minute purple patch.

Tallentire got his second to start the revival and he went on to complete a well taken hat-trick with Rhys Singleton and Jack Denwood also on target to complete the comeback.

Workington had won the first meeting 6-3 back in August with Gosforth squandering several good chances to duplicate the score line in the return.

Team: Paden-Gale, Bosward (Downes, 46), Whitehead, Howarth, Stephenson, Hambling, Lightfoot, Bell, Foster, Webster (Pears, 60), Houghton.