MATCH REPORT: Workington AFC 1-1 Warrington Town

A fully committed, high-energy performance probably deserved a better reward than the point Workington obtained, but the majority, of another bumper Borough Park crowd, would have probably settled for a draw beforehand.

Against one of the pre-season favourites for promotion, Reds gave a good account of themselves and certainly made amends for the below-par showing against Guiseley a few days earlier.

This was a good advertisement for Northern Premier League football, with both teams giving it their all on a surface that dictated it was always going to be a battle rather than a contest of intricate passing skills.

Billy Barr had to make changes to his starting XI but there was a welcome recall for the former skipper, David Symington, and a first league outing of the season for Danny Eccles.

During his four-match absence, the manager has had a rethink on the captaincy and handed the armband to Steven Rigg. The theory of the extra pressure on Reds’ talisman being to the detriment of his performance was the reasoning and, although he is still not quite at his best, he proved a handful for Town for the hour he was on the pitch.

He signed off with the equalising goal in the fifty-seventh minute to maintain his decent scoring record against Town having been inches away from netting a cracker from a sublime free-kick a little earlier.

Paul Carden’s side were probably happy to get to the break still level then opened the scoring with their first meaningful attack after the restart. A fine Max Thompson header gave them the lead and one wondered if all the good work from the hosts would be to no avail.

But the fixture has a history of often finishing all square, and that was the eventual outcome, leaving the excellent travelling contingent from Warrington content with a point.

The first half saw Hayden Atkinson head wide from a good position before Liam Isherwood routinely dealt with on-target efforts from Charlie Barnes and Symington (twice) before plucking a firmly struck Kai Nugent shot out of the air.

The best chance also fell to Symington but, instead of taking a touch with time to do so, he attempted to volley the ball and made a complete hash of his shot.

Despite going behind, Reds showed great character and their performance levels didn’t drop.

Some good defending had thwarted Rigg and Tom Stephenson and when James Harris did get a shot on target for the visitors, in an isolated counter attack, Eccles gathered the ball confidently.

Eccles had gathered several crosses from the flanks but was rarely troubled with direct attempts at goal.

Both sides asserted late pressure in search of a winner but the nearest we came to a decider was from Josh Galloway who’s superbly struck shot just kissed the crossbar on its way over.

That might have given Workington all three points, and not many would have disputed it being deserved, on a day when some of their nearest rivals obtained welcome victories!

Workington: Eccles, Atkinson, Dickinson, Casson (Ellis, 82), Little, Magloire, Stephenson (Hopper, 82), Barnes, Rigg, Nugent, Symington (Galloway, 58). Substitutes – Swinglehurst, McCaragher (not used).

Warrington Town: Isherwood, Melhado, Waters, Gumbs, Flowers, Vela, Brazier (Morris, 73), Harris (Tweedley, 87), Thompson (Isong, 89), Daly (Lloyd, 82), Watson. Substitute – Gabidon (not used).

Referee Joseph Hind, Preston

Bookings: Dickinson (Workington), Daly (Warrington Town)

Attendance: 807