Recap

Another special Dav Symington goal saved the day for Reds with an eighty-fifth minute equaliser salvaging a point after a very good performance produced a frustrating result.

It left them in sixth position in Northern Premier League’s West Division with six clubs on fourteen points, a harsh end to the day for endeavour that deserved a better reward.

But it took an important save from Jim Atkinson in the fifth minute to prevent Leek taking an early lead.  Workington were still finding their feet at that point but Thomas Carr probably had too much time thinking about his chance and Atkinson pounced quickly to block the shot.

Reds survived that scare but it took a while before they threatened at the other end.  Charlie Birch’s first few sorties up the left flank failed to produce an end product but he would emerge one of Reds’ best attacking options in the first half.

His first cross which reached the danger area was headed by Reuben Jerome but the ball rebounded off the cross bar with Sam Booth helpless.

Birch took on responsibility himself in the next attack and a firmly struck shot from an angle was parried by Booth then, towards half time, the young fullback saw another goal-bound attempt blocked.

Steven Rigg’s weak shot was comfortably gathered by Booth but Leek’s second attempt on target, a Daniel Trickett-Smith effort, also lacked the power to trouble Atkinson.

Scott Allison’s late effort in the first half had a bit more zip but narrowly missed the target.

Workington survived an early concern soon after the restart following a needlessly conceded free-kick but Town were then penned back in their own half as Reds began to dominate.

Conor Tinnion almost scored the opener with a wonderful piece of skill.  The skipper produced his party-piece, a curling shot with the outside of his left foot, that was heading for the top corner of the net until Booth pulled off the save of the match to flick the ball over the bar.

Speaking of corners, the count was 11-0 in Reds’ favour but Town stayed resolute from the set pieces with Oliver Harrison and Josh Ryder dealing with most of the aerial threats.

The hosts struck the woodwork for a third time with Symington’s shot rebounding off the upright with Booth possibly getting his finger tips to the ball.  The same two players featured in the next attack with Symington again thwarted when Booth parried his shot and Jerome was unable to reach the rebound.

And having had so much of the play in and around the Leek penalty area, Workington fell for the classic sucker punch after seventy-one minutes.  They seemed to get caught out in both fullback positions with the Staffordshire side cashing in on a rare but devasting attack.  Scott Wara found himself in acres of space on the right flank and his precision cross found the unmarked Rob Stevenson who volleyed home a fine goal bicycle-kick fashion.

It was then that Reds’ character emerged.  They could have easily folded and resigned themselves to ‘it not being their day’ but, instead, kept going to the end.

Booth dealt with another outrageous shot from Symington, pushing the ball over the bar on this occasion.

Workington then had two penalty appeals in quick succession turned down, the first for a foul on Dan Wordsworth seemed a legitimate shout, the second less blatant.

With five minutes of the ninety to be played, Symington capped his man-of-the-match performance by finally getting the better of Booth.  Keelan Leslie did ever so well on the left to find Reds’ number seven but Symington still had a bit to do.  He cut in from the left, created sufficient space and sent a low shot beyond the ‘keeper into the bottom corner – much to the relief of the Workington faithful on the terraces.

There was still time for Reds to win it and the best opportunity fell to Allison but his hurried effort was way off target and, for the third consecutive meeting, the teams played out a draw.

Workington: Atkinson, Clarke, Birch (Reilly, 69), Wordsworth, Smith, Casson (Leslie, 53), Symington, Allison, Rigg, Jerome (Palmer, 90), Tinnion.  Substitutes – Moran, Eccles (not used).

Leek Town: Booth, Wara, Keenan, Grocott, Harrison, Ryder, Davidson (Bavanganga, 15), Reeves, Carr (Grice, 68), Trickett-Smith (Brown, 90), Stevenson.  Substitute – Pickering (not used).

Referee: Alex Beckett, Blackpool

Booking: Reeves (Leek Town)

Attendance: 601