MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 0-0 FC United of Manchester

There was a feel-good factor at Borough Park around 10pm on Tuesday and that despite Reds still searching for their first home win.

It was important they backed up Saturday’s victory at Bamber Bridge with another good performance and for that to be against the early league leaders was a morale booster in itself.

To then obtain a valuable point after a vibrant display sent most of the crowd home happy as Reds’ recovery starts to pick-up a bit of momentum.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between at both ends but, nevertheless, this was a great watch played out by three good teams – Reds, United and the match officials – not forgetting two vocal sets of supporters who got behind their respective team.

David Symington registered the first shot on target in the opening seconds but Daniel Atherton saved comfortably. There was a more spectacular save at the other end when Alex Mitchell dived low to his right to thwart Jay Fitzmartin when United pieced together their first attack.

Declan Evans then headed over from the subsequent corner.

When play switched to the Derwent End, Atherton dealt with a low shot from the former FC player, Josh Galloway, and then gathered another Symington effort with ease.

Keelan Leslie found himself in the area but couldn’t apply the finish to a couple of chances and then Rudy Misambo was gifted a free header, as United countered, but he guided the ball wide.

Galloway then intercepted a cross-field pass and set-off, at pace, down the flank. He played Symington in but the skipper missed the target by inches.

It was goalless at half time and it would remain that way after ninety although Reds, to be fair, had more opportunities to break the deadlock.

Clean sheet for Mitch

Aran Fitzpatrick probably had his best ninety minutes in a red shirt but just lacked that modicum of composure when his left foot effort missed the target.

Symington had another shot blocked and was then narrowly wide with a late free-kick, and Steven Rigg almost got the winner when his late shot was turned away by the ‘keeper for a corner, which wasn’t given.

United forced a string of corners and had plenty of possession in the second half but made little impression on a Reds rearguard keeping a first clean sheet in ten outings.

They did see one effort cleared off the line but Reds remained resilient and certainly deserved some tangible reward from a contest they put so much into.

Workington impressed with their ‘togetherness’ producing invaluable contributions from 1 – 11 throughout.

Onwards and upwards.

Workington: Mitchell, Barnes, Leslie, Little, Dickinson (Swinglehurst, 74), Fitzpatrick, Symington, Ellis (Park, 86), Rigg, Deans (McGladdery, 74), Galloway. Substitutes – Bell, Stephenson (not used).

FC United of Manchester: Atherton, Thomson, Weston, Wisdom, Misambo, Evans, Grivosti (Masara, 74), Donohue, Le Fondre, Buckley (Munro, 57), Fitzmartin (Sithole, 84). Substitutes – Palinkas, Sudworth (not used).

Referee: Nat Cox

Bookings: Galloway (Workington), Thomson, Fitzmartin (FC United of Manchester)

Attendance: 916