Last updated at 12:26, Monday, 28 March 2011

Workington Reds 1 Corby Town 2: Workington Reds threw away a point in injury time as sloppy defending allowed Corby to complete the ultimate smash and grab.

Jonny Wright

Three goals in the last 10 minutes made for an exciting finish, unfortunately it was the visitors who struck twice to walk away with the points.

A wonder strike by Corby substitute Greg Smith set up the nail-biting finale when he unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards.

Reds hit back a minute from time through Andy Murray-Jones but straight from the restart, Corby broke and striker Stephen Diggin netted the winner.

It was a disappointing end to a game that Workington dominated from start to finish.

Boss Darren Edmondson made two changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Blyth last time out.

Out went the injured Phil McLuckie and Shaun Vipond with youngsters Jonny Blake and Conor Tinnion coming in.

Workington started brightly and Lee Andrews had a chance to open the scoring on seven minutes.

Andrews got his head to an in-swinging free-kick but lacked the power to beat Corby keeper Lee Wildrum. Jonny Wright anticipated the rebound but couldn’t apply the finish.

Workington’s first of three penalty shouts came two minutes later after Corby captain Phil Gulliver handled the ball in the box. Referee Andy Miller ruled that it was ball-to-hand and waved away the appeals.

The Borough Park side were in complete control but couldn’t finish off the chances they created.

Wright was next to try his luck but got underneath Tinnion’s cross and headed high and wide when he should have done better.

Blake, who looked the part in the middle of the park, hit a speculative effort on 13 minutes but it never looked like giving Wildrum a problem.

Andy Langford came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through the half but his 20-yard free-kick went just over the angle of post and bar.

Workington’s front three of Wright, Nick Rogan and Gareth Arnison were causing Corby problems but the trio lacked the killer touch when through on goal. Rogan was played in by Wright and after beating the hefty Gulliver, he allowed the defender to get back and stall.

When he eventually got a strike on goal it was weak and gave Wildrum no problems.

Rogan was doing a lot of running with the ball but often gave away possession by trying to beat one man too many. He’s clearly got talent but fails to spot a simple pass and instead tries elaborate tricks that have so-far failed to come off.

Reds’ second penalty shout came two minutes after the restart when Wright was felled by Netan Sansara but again referee Miller gave nothing.

The ball broke and one punt down the pitch and Diggin was through one-on-one. His feeble attempt was easy for Aaran Taylor to gather.

That long ball proved effective for Corby, who used it to release Diggin three more times before he finally struck the winner.

On each time the seasoned veteran was played through with just Taylor to beat but a combination of good shot-stopping and the post came to Workington’s rescue.

Workington continued to pile on the pressure but a lack of conviction stopped them taking the lead.

On the hour-mark Wright was again hauled to the floor by Sansara but, infuriatingly, the referee turned down the appeal.

Kyle May forced Wildrum to pull off the save of the match on 72 minutes when he powered a goal-bound header but the custodian dived full-length to his right to deny the defender the opener.

A slip at the vital time cost Murray-Jones a certain goal. With the goal gaping, the striker stumbled and failed to convert Wright’s low cross.

Smith then put the visitors in front with a thumping long-range effort. The goal was a cruel blow but Workington responded.

Anthony Wright fired a fierce shot after supporting the attack before Murray-Jones tapped in from close range to level.

Jonny Wright’s header rebounded off the post after Wildrum slipped and the substitute levelled.

Less than 60 seconds later, the visitors won it when a lapse in concentration allowed Diggin to lob Taylor and secure the win.

Star man: Jonny Wright was a constant pain for the Corby defence.

Workington Reds: Taylor, Langford, A Wright, May, Andrews, Blake (Main 83), Tinnion, Hewson (Vipond 83), J Wright, Arnison, Rogan (Murray-Jones 68). Subs not used: Hindmarch.

Attendance: 314

Referee: Andy Miller (County Durham)

First published at 11:29, Monday, 28 March 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk