Workington Reds have gone in at half time on goal down in their league clash against Barwell.

The home side struggled to get going in this game, which was in total contrast to the efforts of Tuesday night.

Barwell looked the better side for the majority of the game and caused a lot of problems for the home defence.

But it looked as though they might survive the onslaught and remain level at the break when Aaran Taylor saved a penalty on 33 minutes.

But then a tangle in the defence allowed Barwell back in and they picked up a deserved goal with just minutes to go to half time.

A mix-up in the Workington defence nearly handed an early opportunity to Barwell, but the ball was chipped just over the top by Nigel Julien and the home side could breathe a sigh of relief.

And it was Matthew Stenson who was the first to get on the wrong side of the referee, receiving a yellow card after a challenge on Josh Calvert.

Reds began to finally pick up their pace and string some passes together and Matty Douglas was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

He stretched out to try and push the ball past the keeper but it just rolled the wrong side of he post.

Douglas then beat his man down the right hand side and got in a great cross into the box, Sam Joel looked to volley it home but it was well blocked, as was the follow up from Phil McLuckie.

Into the 33rd minute and it looked like bad news for Reds when Dan Wordsworth stuck out a leg and brought down the elusive Stenson, who was causing problems for the Reds defence. And the referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot.

Stenson stepped up to take the penalty and he blasted it to the left of the keeper but Aaran Taylor was up to the task, diving low and halting the shot.

Owen Story was looking to get his side into the lead but this time it was Josh Calvert who got back to defuse the danger.

But just moments later it was Calvert who was called on yet again but this time he got himself in a tangle and Brady Hickey came away with the ball with only the keeper to beat.

And he slotted the ball past Taylor to put the visitors into the lead with just a couple of minutes to go before half time.