By John Walsh

Last updated at 11:58, Monday, 23 February 2009

Tamworth 1 Workington Reds 0: The beautiful game can be cruel at times, as Workington found out to their cost from a second fruitless trip to the west Midlands inside four days.

But while Reds had few complaints about Tuesday’s 2-0 reversal at Solihull, they could be bitterly disappointed about not bringing home at least a point from the Lamb.

A controversial goal on 75 minutes settled an even game in Tamworth’s favour when it could have been ruled out for one of three  reasons.

Kyle May was pushed in his own area and lay prone while play was allowed to continue – but referee Neil Radford did not spot the foul and felt May’s problem was an arm injury.

Mind you May had only just returned to the field after a lengthy stoppage for treatment to a head injury, which left him sporting a swollen and blackened eye.

Then to add insult to injury when Adam Collin went down to palm away a low shot from Nicky Wright, the subsequent scorer Gareth Sheldon looked to be in an offside position when he drilled the loose ball into an unguarded net.

Manager Darren Edmondson admitted he was distraught for his players over the decision to allow the goal.

“They didn’t deserve that. I could have gone on and earned myself a red card because I felt so incensed. There was no way that goal should have stood,” said the Reds manager.

Reds secretary Steve Durham spoke to the referee afterwards about his decision and said that Mr Radford had not seen any foul and there had been no flag from his assistant over the offside.

On the matter of whether he should have stopped play for May’s injury he told the Reds official - “He was clearly holding his arm and as I did not see a foul there was no need to stop the game. I realise that incident has cost Workington the game and I’m sorry, but from what I saw there was nothing to disallow the goal or stop play.”

Workington had coped well throughout with the Tamworth attack and the promotion chasers only went close on two other occasions – before and after the goal.

Collin made a fine reflex save to turn away a clever flick from substitute Jake Sheridan soon after the change had been made by Lamb’s boss Gary Mills.

Then Collin again, just got enough of a glove on a lob from Sheridan when he went clear, and slowed it sufficiently for Lee Andrews to get back and hammer clear as it was dropping towards the empty net.

Workington matched their opponents for football, determination and effort and over the 90 minutes the statistics on possession and territory, so loved by the TV producers, would have been fairly even.

Reds probably shaded the first-half but had their best chance of the game early in the second period.

A long clearance from Collin was headed on by debutant Andy Cook to release strike partner Gareth Arnison. He took on the last defender, stepped inside and the normally impressive finisher looked a certain scorer.

But for some reason he went for the near post area when a shot across the keeper would have been his best option and was wide of the mark.

In the first-half Arnison had just been unable to get on the end of a great through ball from Gari Rowntree which was flapped at by the hesitant keeper Danny Alcock. He needed his defender Craig McAughtrie to lash it behind for a corner before Arnison could get there.

Then a low Rowntree cross was volleyed just over by Cook and the young Carlisle United loanee headed wide when he rose to reach a Shaun Vipond free kick.

Clear cut chances were few and far between at either end and in many ways a 0-0 scoreline would have been a fair reflection on what had gone beforehand.

The Workington players had responded well to Tuesday’s flat effort at Solihull – and also to the announcement that Reds had reinstated the wage cut made at the end of October.

Club director Alec Graham said: “The wages cuts deemed necessary to protect the club’s cash-flow have been dropped and players will now receive their full amount.

“The team has performed well in the FA Trophy and the monies the cup run produced, coupled with the expected payment of £10,000 from Newcastle Blue Star has enabled this change to take place.”

The decision to restore the players’ wages comes midst regular “horror” stories of what’s happening elsewhere in non-League football with several Blue Square North clubs reported to be in deep trouble.

Wages are not being paid at all at one club; players have been made available at several others and the vast majority are thought to be hanging on by their fingernails.

Workington’s prudent house-keeping has been criticised in the past but has been a key factor in their ability to withstand the grave economic problems affecting the country.

Manager Edmondson said: “It’s a good gesture which the players have appreciated but we have a great bunch at the club so money hasn’t been an issue as our results, up until the last two away games, have shown.”

MATCH FACTS

Star man: Lee Andrews

Workington: Collin, Langford, Rowntree, May (Anane 78), Andrews, McLuckie (Hardman 90), Vipond, Hopper, Cook, Arnison, A. Wright (Dorney 71). Subs (not used) Robinson, Edmondson.

Referee: Neil Radford, Worcester

Crowd: 707

First published at 11:33, Monday, 23 February 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk