Workington Reds were denied a sixth successive victory by a late equaliser.

Lancaster City grabbed their second goal with just 40 seconds left.

Reds twice had the lead with finishes by Phil McLuckie and Conor Tinnion.

Disappointed to lose the two extra points by he late leveller, Reds still extended their unbeaten run to 16 games.

Workington, as expected, made the one change with Rob Wilson coming into midfield and James Earl taking a spell on the bench.

Anthony Wright and Nathan Waterston, who have been absentees over the Christmas period, will be back for Saturday’s trip to Stafford.

The first shot of the game came from Ryan Winder and Aaran Taylor had to watch it carefully before it deflected behind for a corner which came to nothing.

pressure

Lancaster kept up the early pressure but strong defending from Reds kept them at arms’ length.

It was Reds who could have taken the lead on eight minutes. Keeper Chris Cheetham couldn’t hold a Conor Tinnion free-kick but made amends with a good block to deny Scott Allison on the rebound.

But when Reds were awarded a second free-kick from the same position on 13 minutes they did take the lead.

Dave Symington teed it up for Tinnion to hit over the wall. Again Cheetham spilled it but this time Phil McLuckie was there to hammer it into the net.

It was an unconvining start by Cheetham and he was in trouble dealing with anoter Symington free-kick, palming it round for a corner.

Reds were running the game nw and after some good build up play Wilson tried his luck rom range was was well off target.

Lancaster had not been seen as an attacking force for a while but on 20 minutes Winder let one go from 25 yards and it was straight at Taylor.

That sparked a good little spell for the Dolly Blues. Winder fired in a 25 yard free kick and Taylor had to go full length to turn away.

Then he did well to punch away a dangerous ball into the box.

A great ball inside the full-back by Allison released sam Joel on 32 minutes, He cut in for goal but his shot for the near post was blocked by Cheetham’s legs.

Then a great cross from Symington had City in trouble but Simon Wills did get it behind for a corner which was cleared.

City broke on 41 minutes and a good cross from Paul Jarvis was headed wide by Steve Williams.

Reds were on the attack when the half ended. Cheetham had done well under pressure to punch away a deep Symington free-kick.

Lancaster made a change at half-time with Billy Akrigg replacing skipper Craig Carney.

The home side started positively, too, and there was a close call for Reds when a free-kick into the box was cleared by the foot of the post.

Workington hit back with a shot on the run from Symington which was always going wide.

Lancaster came back and a curling free-kick from Dugdale was headed just over by Sam Bailey.

It had become scrappy, though, with not lot of football being played.

City made a second change on 62 minutes when Tom Kilifin replaced Winder.

He arrived in time to see Cheetham make three saves in quick succession as Alison, Joel and Tinnion were all denied by consecutive blocks in his six yard box.

It was all square on 70 minutes when Lancaster substitute Akrigg curled one past Taylor from the edge of the area.

But almost immediately Reds hit back to regain the lead. They broke quickly through Joel who fed Tinnion out on the left. He fired in a low cross shot which found the bottom corner.

Reds then replaced Wilson with James Earl for the final 15 minutes.

Cheetham was the City hero again on 77 minutes when he made anther excellent stop to keep out a Tinnion pile driver.

Lancaster made their third substitution on 79 minutes when Dugdale was replacd by Charlie Bailey.

Lancaster applied strong late pressure and Ricky Mercer should have scored when he got on the end of a free kick but fortunately headed straight at Taylor from close range.

Two minutes from the end Jamie Mellen took the place of Joel.

With three minute of added time Reds kept the ball in the corner for a good minute before City got it away.

It was debatable, too, as the referee awarded a free kick against Allison when he appeared to have done little wrong.

Then with just 40 seconds left City grabbed the equaliser. Substitute Bailey fired in a great shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.