Recap
Reds remain unbeaten in six visits to the Joseph Russell Stadium but their impressive record looked in jeopardy as the game approached the ninety minute mark.
Trailing to John Murphy’s fourteenth minute goal, Reds snatched a deserved equaliser just as the board displayed six minutes of added time.
James Hooper’s late leveller secured Reds’ first point of the season when back-to-back odd goal defeats looked a strong possibility.
They had conceded a 96th minute goal against Mossley in Saturday’s opener but the boot was on the other foot as they celebrated a late goal of their own.
Danny Grainger made three team changes for the first away trip, handing a debut to Niall Moran on his twentieth birthday. After a nervous start, the young defender acquitted himself well in front of family members in the stand.
But Moran and his defensive colleagues were caught a bit flat-footed when Cables opened the scoring with their first serious attack. Adam Hamill sent a routine free kick towards the far post and John Murphy was almost unchallenged as he converted from eight years.
Reds were moving the ball reasonably well but lacked conviction in the final third although Charlie Birch volleyed narrowly wide when he ventured forward.
They had a great opportunity to equalise in the eighteenth minute when James Devine inexplicably handled a cross from the left, an offence punished by a yellow card and a penalty. Lewis Reilly stepped up for the spot kick but his well struck shot was superbly saved by Cables’ ‘keeper, Mitchell Allen.
The hosts almost doubled their lead soon after when Adam Hamill cut in from the left and shot goal-wards, only for the ball to rebound of the crossbar. And a second Cables ‘goal’ was disallowed for a foul in the area.
Workington had been second best in the first period but got into their stride after the break but, although dominating possession, rarely looked like scoring until the later stages.
Prescot’s attacks were now rare although another Adam Hamill shot on the turn was comfortably saved by the almost redundant Atkinson.
Workington continued to move the ball about well but a lack of a cutting edge in the final third was highlighted by Reuben Jerome’s fine shot in the 85th minute. Other than the penalty, it was Reds first serious effort on target!
Allen saved the Jerome effort but Reds sensed a goal was imminent. Young Moran almost capped his first game with a goal but glanced his header wide following a corner.
Then as the clock ticked towards the ninety, Danny Grainger’s side grabbed the goal their second half display warranted. Conor Tinnion and Scott Allison were involved in a quick exchange of passes just inside the area and substitute James Hooper finished off the move with a confident finish.
It was late in the day, but most welcome, as this newly assembled side attempts to create a new identity.
Prescot Cables: Allen, Cannon-Noren, Devine M, Devine J, Gofton, Gregory (Williams, 76), Hamill A (Glennon, 82), Foley, Murphy, Goodwin, Sambor (Pritchard, 66). Substitutes – Hamill J, Nugent (not used).
Workington: Atkinson, Mahone, Birch (Hooper, 70), Wordsworth, Moran, Carroll (Casson, 76), Symington, Rigg, Reilly (Allison, 58), Jerome, Tinnion. Substitutes – Lightfoot, Palmer (not used).
Referee: Jonathan Chadwick
Bookings: Cannon-Noren, Devine J, Murphy (Prescot Cables), Wordsworth, Rigg, Jerome, Casson (Workington)
Attendance: 515