By John Walsh

Last updated at 14:35, Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Vauxhall Motors 1 Workington Reds 1: Phil McLuckie rescued Workington’s unbeaten record when he snatched a late equaliser for the Cumbrians against their bottom-of-the-table hosts.

Phil McLuckie

Liverpool referee Andy Scregg confirmed there were only thirty seconds left of the five minutes added time when McLuckie scrambled in the Workington goal.

Vauxhall were that near to collecting their first win since mid-October as Workington just managed to extend their unbeaten sequence to nine games.

“Whether we deserved to is another matter but at least there was an improvement in the second-half and the lads kept going all the way to the end,” said manager Darren Edmondson.

The Reds boss and his assistant Viv Busby had not been happy with what they saw in the first-half as Reds went into the break on the back of a dismal performance and a one-goal deficit.

But for a stunning save by goalkeeper Tony Caig, the Cumbrians would have been in a worse position and couldn’t really have complained.

Caig, who had produced a stop of Gordon Banks proportions in the FA Trophy win over Rushden and Diamonds, underlined his value to the side with another save last night of the highest quality.

Bran Moogan chipped-up a free-kick on 26 minutes which saw Lee Furlong getting up to place a header across the Workington keeper.

The veteran keeper belied his advancing years by getting down and across superbly to palm it away. Chris Noone followed-up with a shot which Lee Andrews kicked-off the line and then Gareth Evans fired high over the bar.

But Caig could do nothing about the second header which gave Vauxhall the lead on 33 minutes.

It was another free-kick from Moogan which saw home skipper Josh Wilson rise above the Workington defence to power in a well-directed header beyond the diving Caig.

The Workington keeper had also to get down smartly to hold a low shot from Furlong almost on his line and although it was mainly regulation stuff after that he had much more to do than opposite number James Coates.

He didn’t have a shot to save and his most serious work involved racing from his goal to get to clearances ahead of Andy Hardman and Jonny Wright.

The one moment of class, stemming from Workington’s best football of the half, should have produced an equaliser three minutes before the break.

Skipper Tony Hopper and Jonny Wright linked well to find Hardman on the edge of the area and a clever final pass left top-scorer Gareth Arnison free ten yards from goal.

Meat and drink to the in-form striker, Reds fans were half-raising their arms in celebration but he fired wide.

Clearly not happy the Reds management team gained a response in the second-half and it was Workington who dominated the game with much more territory and possession.

They should have scored within two minutes of the re-start. Typically industrious work from skipper Hopper saw him win the ball against the odds on the edge of the penalty area and he slipped a pass to the unmarked Hardman who drilled a low shot just past the post.

Jonny Wright curled a shot just wide and Anthony Wright belted one just over, but for all their improvement in football quality and work-rate, Reds just couldn’t test Coates.

Nursing a shoulder injury McLuckie had been left on the bench and would almost certainly have spent the match there if things had gone right for the Reds.

But Edmondson decided to throw him on after 65 minutes along with Callum Ruttledge in a double change with Stephen Hindmarch also getting his longest spell of first team action from the 78th minute.

It was McLuckie, though, who grabbed the point in the fifth minute of time added on.

Gari Rowntree swung over a right-wing, near post corner which caused a problem for goalkeeper Coates. There appeared to have been a hand-ball in there as well but it fell nicely for McLuckie who hammered home into the roof of the net from very close range.

Later referee Scregg confirmed that he had spotted the hand ball and if McLuckie hadn’t finished he would have blown for a penalty.

Reds certainly played their get-out-of-jail card and will be looking for a much-improved effort in Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at Wimbledon.

STAR MAN: TONY HOPPER worked tirelessly throughout in what seemed a lost cause but at least Reds learned the value of keeping going until the very end.

Reds: Caig, Langford, Rowntree, May, Andrews, Vipond (McLuckie 65), Hardman (Hindmarch 78), Hopper, J. Wright, Arnison (Ruttledge 65), A. Wright. Subs (not used) Taylor, Edmondson.

Referee: Andy Scregg, Liverpool

First published at 11:26, Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk