A depleted Workington team picked up a deserved point at high-riding Whitby with an equalising goal from teenager Nathan Waterston.

It was Waterston’s first senior goal for the club and followed a hat-trick for the reserves last Thursday.

Reds, with several players missing, dominated the game for long periods and were unlucky not to collect all three points.

Conor Tinnion, back to his best in a central midfield role, hit the bar, Joe McGee had an effort kicked off the line and Scott Allison had a strong claim for a penalty in the last minute.

Afterwards, joint-manager Dave Hewson said: “I was delighted with the reaction I got from the players after the last two matches.

"It showed the togetherness we have in the squad to fight in adversity.

“I’m hoping that result and performance against a very good side will kick-start our season.

"It was a very good effort and I thought it as a game we could easily have won.”

In need of a boost after two successive defeats by Matlock Town, the Reds were hit by more set-backs ahead of their game at Whitby.

Veteran defender Kyle May and experienced midfielder Phil McLuckie weren’t in the travelling squad and, with James Earl suspended, Hewson had selection concerns.

Tom Kilifin had asked for his release while both young defender Calum Henderson and deputy keeper Thomas Fowler had been unable to travel because of work commitments.

Josh Calvert had travelled with the squad but was only able to act as an unusable substitute.

It meant they had only three subs, one of them Jordan Ferguson from the reserves squad, being used for the first time.

Whitby had been going well until Saturday when they lost 3-0 at leaders Buxton, so they were also looking to bounce back.

They had former Reds striker Matty Tymon in their line-up.

Reds had to play into a strong wind in the first half but were first to press.

Good build-up play ended with a Jake Simpson cross being headed clear.

The first shot of the game came from Whitby’s Michael Roberts, who went forward after a slip by Sam Smith but his effort was past the foot of the post.

Workington threatened down the right after Scott Allison cut in before slipping Nathan Waterston in and his shot on the run flew wide.

Reds continued to do well and when they won a corner almost took the lead.

Allison’s flicked header was hit by Joe McGee and cleared off the line. Matty Douglas fired in the rebound but keeper Shane Bland smothered.

A good, deep free-kick from Conor Tinnion was punched clear and then Alison cut in strongly from the right but his low shot was straight at Bland.

It had been a good, workmanlike start by Reds and they had been the better, smarter side for the opening quarter of the game.

Whitby had rarely threatened and, when they did create an opening down the right, Roberts shot wildly and was well off target.

A good cross from Kieran Weledji caused a problem but Taylor dived forward to palm away.

There was danger for Reds on 30 minutes when Whitby were awarded a free-kick wide out on the left and it produced the opening goal.

The cross was headed home by Luke Bythway, with Taylor rooted to the spot.

On 36 minutes, Tymon almost made it two.

A curling cross from Weledji was met by Tymon’s head and Taylor produced a wonderful save to turn it over for a corner, which came to nothing.

Wilson tried one from range but the house window behind the Whitby goal was in more danger than the intended target.

Then, Symington let one rip from 25 yards which was nearer the target and had Bland scrambling across his line but flashed wide.

Workington forced two corners in quick succession but both were cleared, although Wilson hit the first back through a crowded area but it was blocked.

In the final minute of the first half, Whitby forced a corner and David McTiernan’s diving header was wide.

Workington had played well in the first half, despite the scoreline and they set off well on the resumption.

Symington had a go from distance but was well wide and then Elliot Newby had a good chance when a home defender slipped.

He was through on goal but shot over the top and then Wilson had a goal-bound shot deflected for a corner.

Reds kept attacking and a shot from 30 yards by Tinnion came back off the bar.

There was one dangerous break by Blyth when Dale Hopson tried to chip Taylor but the keeper was back to gather.

But back came Reds and, after good work by Waterston and Tinnion, McGee let fly from 25 yards and the ball whizzed just wide.

McGee was the first player in the book after fouling Roberts but Reds cleared the free-kick.

Workington levelled on 69 minutes and it was a deserved goal.

Symington got down the left and pulled a low ball back for Waterston to stab home from close range.

Reds were on top now and playing some good football with Tinnion, in a central midfield role, outstanding.

Symington fired wide from 30 yards and Waterston was also wide from range as Reds tried to take advantage of the wind behind them.

Whitby made the first change of the game on 82 minutes when Curtis Round replaced Hopson.

There was a chance on 85 minutes when Waterston put over a good cross from the left and Allison’s downward header went wide.

Into the last three minutes and both Symington and Newby had long-range efforts well off target.

In the last minute, Allison went down in the box from a challenge from Bythway but the referee saw nothing wrong.

WHITBY: Bland, Weledji, McWilliams, May, Bythway, Robinson, Gell, McTiernan, Roberts, Tymon, Hopson (Round 82). Subs (not used) Park, Hume, Bullock, Dawson.

WORKINGTON: Taylor, Simpson, Symington, Smith, Douglas, Wilson, Allison, McGee, Waterston, Newby, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Hebson, Ferguson, Calvert.

REFEREE: Matthew Sowerby, Knaresborough

ATTENDANCE: 238

STAR MAN: Conor Tinnion