Workington Reds play-off hopes dented at Nantwich

Nantwich were the better side for long periods but were gifted the opener on 41 minutes before scoring a beauty on 56 minutes to clinch the points.

Workington battled well throughout but never seriously tested Hungarian Under-19 international goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai despite lively performances from man of the match Conor Tinnion and Joe McGee.

Workington are approaching the last throw of the dice time in the final fortnight of the Evo-Stik Premier league after slipping out of the play-off places.

Ahead of their trip to Nantwich there was more bad news for the Reds with two key members of the squad ruled out for the rest of the season.

Phil McLuckie’s energy and Gari Rowntree’s determination have been important ingredients in Workington’s rise up the table for the majority of the season.

Reds made two changes from the side which lost 3-1 at home to Frickley with Matty Tymon and Connor Hammell in for the injured Anthony Wright and young Robbie Hebson.

Nantwich made four changes from the side which drew 2-2 at home to Reds play-off rivals Ashton United.

Workington had the first effort. Some clever inter-change between Scott Allison and Scott Hammell ended with Matty Tymon taking on the shot but it wasn’t a good one and was well wide.

Workingon had a free-kick in a good position after Tymon was pushed in the back but Conor Tinnion’s ball into the box was headed away.

Nantwich’s first effort on goal came from Liam Shotton but Jonny Jamieson blocked the shot and although the rebound was scrambled behind for a corner a foul on Jamieson earned a free-kick.

Workington had a scare on 13 minutes when a Josh Gordon cross into the six yard box saw Shotton sliding in to apply the finishing touches but instead he set-up the ball for Jamieson to re-adjust and pick-up.

Allison had an opportunity after intercepting a square ball but he wasted it by shooting on the run when forced wide and it was nearer the corner flag than the goal. He was better coming in from the right where his low shot was blocked and cleared.

It was end-to-end and pretty even with both sides looking dangerous when they broke quickly on the opposition.

Nantwich had a good opportunity on 22 minutes when Shotton turned well in the area but screwed his shot well wide from a good position.

That sparked a good spell for the home side and Jake Simpson had to make a goal-line clearance with Jamieson holding a returned shot from Baillie.

Nantwich had started to find their rhythm and were knocking the ball around confidently with Reds forced onto the back foot.

The siege was broken when Kyle May thumped the ball forward and Tinnion showed great skill on the left to beat two defenders but his shot was always going wide.

Then McGee and Tymon had shots blocked in the Nantwich area as Workington while a great cross-field move by Reds sent Simpson away but he was stopped by a great covering tackle from Jon Moran.

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It was Nantwich who took the lead on 41 minutes and it was a disaster for Reds. A long ball was chased by Simpson and Shotton with the full-back inviting Jamieson to slide in and collect. He did so but seemed to lose control and Shotton had a simple task in side-footing into an empty net.

Reds almost fashioned an equaliser when McGee played in Allison and he was preparing to blast the ball goalwards when Curtis Jones made an important tackle as the hosts took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Nantwich won a corner early in the second half but Tymon was there to head clear. But a second corner soon afterwards ended with a fiercely driven cross from Elliott Osborne going right across goal witout a touch being applied.

Reds had a chance to load the box after Moran fouled McGee but Tinnion’s free-kick was easily headed away. Nantwich clearly had a height advantage and Reds were fighting a losing battle in the air.

A good ball in from Tinnion wasn’t gathered by keeper Gyollai but he got lucky as the ball rebounded off Tymon for a goal kick.

At the other end Nantwich doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Josh Hancock turned smartly on the edge of the area and lashed in a superb shot which beat the diving Jamieson.

Then Hancock was put through the middle but as Jamieson came out the winger fired high over the bar.

Workington made their first change on the hour when Robbie Hebson replaced Connor Hammell and that was followed by one for Nantwich with Matt Bell replacing Osborne.

Workington were suddenly looking a tired side and midway through the half it was difficult to see them getting back into the game.

Reds made a second change on 68 minutes when Rob Wilson was replaced by Jamie Bethwaite who was making his senior debut.

Tymon did get a header in from Simpson’s cross but Gyollai held comfortably and at the other end Baillie hit a 35 yard rocket inches over the bar.

News that both Ashton and Stourbridge were winning away from home made it worse for Reds who were slipping further out of contention against a good Nantwich side.

Tinnion was always Reds best option and after one of his crosses was headed away Calvert drove a shot wide. Then Tymon had a shot blocked in the box and a late Reds corner was eventually scrambled away.

McGee had worked hard throughout and in the 89th minute he was unlucky to become the first player to be booked.

In the last minute there was a chance for Hancock but Jamieson managed to block the shot.

Four minutes of added time produced no goals but another yellow card for young Hebson after a tackle on Baillie.

Nantwich: Gyollai, Jones, White (Cooke 70), Moran, Bailey, Osborne (Bell 62), Baillie, Hall, Shotton (Harrison 88), Gordon, Hancock. Subs - Smith, Short.

Goals: Shotton (41), Hancock (56).

Workington Reds: Jamieson, Simpson, Smith, May, Calvert, Wilson (Bethwaite 68), McGee, Hammell (Hebson 60), Allison, Tymon, Tinnion. Subs: McCartney, Mitchell, Studholme.

Yellow cards: McGee, Hebson

Referee: Peter Gooch

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