By John Walsh

Last updated at 16:30, Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Droylsden 1 Workington 1: A spectacular goal five minutes from time denied Workington their first away win of the season last night.

Craig Johnston

Reds had led the home side for 84 minutes, after a dramatic opening, only to be caught out in the closing stages.

But the point, on the back of a good draw at Alfreton on Saturday, extended Reds’ unbeaten run to three games and was again achieved without three of the club’s senior and most experienced players.

Workington boss Darren Edmondson said: “I think it was a well-earned point. We would have taken it before the start but as the game unfolded there was a strong possibility that we could have brought back all three.”

Reds confidence was boosted with a goal after only a minute, courtesy of the new strike partnership of Andrew Hardman and Jonny Wright.

Hardman had been given his chance because Gareth Arnison hadn’t fully recovered from a strain he picked-up at Alfreton.

The pint-sized attacker provided a glimpse of his vision and ability with a clever chipped-shot from the right-hand side which deceived home keeper Craig Mawson but rebounded off the far post.

Jonny Wright reacted well and moved in to fire home his fourth goal of the season in clinical fashion before Mawson could recover – and Reds were off to a flier.

The lead could so easily have been doubled soon afterwards when another great piece of skill by Hardman, with a clever flighted pass for Craig Johnston almost undid the home defence.

Johnston was at full stretch and any connection would surely have teed the ball past the advancing Mawson, but he just failed to make contact and the keeper gathered.

Droylsden, who were playing Blue Square Premier football last season – although not with the majority of this re-shaped side – knocked the ball around in pleasing, eye-catching fashion.

They had lots of possession in the first-half but very rarely threatened the Workington goal.

The Reds back four – with Lee Andrews and Dan Kirkup again outstanding – coped well and were given solid protection by a hard-working midfield who shone in their defensive duties throughout.

However, there was one major scare for the west Cumbrians when Droylsden were awarded a 25th minute penalty. Andrews and Kirkup had both put in strong and effective challenges in the box, but from one of them Neil Prince was left on thedeck.

Referee Peter Bankes felt he had been put there unfairly and awarded Droylsden a penalty.

Prince brushed himself down and took it himself – a well-struck, left foot shot heading for the far side of Adam Collin’s goal. But the Reds keeper got across splendidly to palm the ball away and deny the Bloods an equaliser.

Workington had their own shouts for a penalty when Droylsden were sluggish defending a left wing corner but the Liverpool official saw no hand ball and instead award Reds another corner, this time on the right hand side.

Both sides got through to half-time without any further alarms and on the resumption there were clear signs that Workington were going to see more of the ball.

For while Droylsden had dominated possession and territory in the first period there was more of an even flow about proceedings after the re-start.

But with Workington still holding onto their precious lead there were only real signs of a Droylsden recovery in the closing stages, and with the introduction of substitute Kevin Townson.

The Bloods brought on all three replacements but it was the arrival of Townson on 74 minutes which had most impact.

Spotting Collin off his line on 78 minutes he put in a glorious chip which beat the hastily back-pedalling Collin but landed on the roof of the net.

Then a minute later Townson let fly from range and Collin had to stretch above his head to make a timely block or Droylsden would have been level.

The equaliser came on 85 minutes, however. Full-back Sean Newton switched play from left to right with a diagonal ball which was misjudged by Gari Rowntree and found Prince in behind him.

His earlier penalty miss was finally buried and forgotten as he cut through into the area past a couple of tackles before smashing a fine shot into the top corner.

Funnily enough, in the few minutes that remained, it was Workington who went closest to claiming all three points but substitute Gareth Arnison had a shot deflected for a corner after some brave home defending. The ball just wouldn’t sit down fast enough for him and Colin Cryan made the block.

MATCH FACTS

Star man: Craig Johnston - Set a great example to others around him in the key midfield area, particularly through his work-rate and drive.

Workington: Collin, Hewson, Rowntree, Kirkup, Andrews, Robinson, Johnston, Vipond, Hardman (Arnison 75), J. Wright, A. Wright (McLuckie 80). Subs (not used) Anthony, Edmondson

Crowd: 386

Referee: Peter Bankes, Liverpool

First published at 11:46, Tuesday, 02 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk