Workington Reds went down to their first loss at Borough Park this season when a lone penalty goal from Matlock Town proved the difference between the two sides.

It was a lacklustre showing from Reds who never really looked like troubling their visitors.

Despite having their fair share of possession, especially in the first half, they could not seem to get the ball into the box and create any problems.

A penalty in the 58th minute when Dan Wordsworth brought down Tyrell Waite in the box allowed Shaun Harrad to step up and score from the spot for Matlock.

Reds had one of their best spells immediately after this as they tried to redress the balance but after 10 minutes, it was the visitors who got back on top and saw the game out.

Anthony Wright came out of the game with some credit as he battled hard throughout but Reds were lacking in chances, Philip Barnes in the visiting goal, having an easy day.

Reds had two chances of note in the opening 10 minutes with Dave Symington turning on the edge of the area but his shot went wide.

Then Sam Joel got the ball in for Jordan Holt but he looked to shoot through a score of defenders and his effort also went wide of the target.

Matlock had their chances too, with the best coming from Luis Rose on the 20-minute mark but his shot went straight into the arms of the watching Aaran Taylor.

Minutes later and Matlock broke away with Reds defenders chasing back and it fell to the feet of Harrad out on the left hand side.

His first shot thankfully took a slight deflection off Jake Simpson and Taylor was able to collect.

Allison and Holt looked to combine in a crowded box but they could not find the final touch, which summed up Workington's day.

On 41 minutes, Matlock thought they had done enough as Harrad played in a nice ball to Tyrell Waite, in space, in the box.

His shot flew into the back of the net but the linesman had his flag up for offside and the goal was disallowed.

Reds had the right answer as Simpson took on the defence down the right hand side and got in a good cross which was put out by the Matlock defence for a corner.

Symington put a ball in looking to break the deadlock but the Matlock keeper gathered at the second attempt to smother any danger.

Then a mistake from Symington led to Harrad going one-on-one with Taylor who had come out to meet him. Harrad looked to chip the keeper but instead it went right into his arms and the score remained 0-0 at half time.

The second half started slowly with Sam Joel having the only real shot in the opening 10 minutes but it went safely into the hands of keeper Barnes.

Then, in the 58th minute, disaster struck for Reds as Cribley got past his man and looked to turn in the box and pick out his shot.

But Wordsworth stuck out his leg and Cribley went down with the referee having no choice but to point to the penalty spot.

Harrad took on the responsibility and put it right past Taylor in the nets for the visitors to take the lead.

Both goalkeepers were called into action in quick succession as first Joel fired in a great shot forcing a good save from Barnes.

Then play flew to the opposite end of the field where Taylor came out to take the ball from the feet of Cribley.

Cribley was again in the thick of it when he played the ball in to Harrad but he put too much on the ball and allowed Taylor to scoop it up.

A Symington shot took a deflection and went out for a corner with 20 minutes left but Matlock dealt with it easily and broke away

The ex-Carlisle man battled his way into the area moments later but some good defending ensured he couldn't get a shot away.

Wordsworth had to concede a corner as he blocked the mazy run of Waite in the box but the home side managed to clear.

And Rose picked up the pace for Matlock winning the race down the left touchline and getting a shot in that had Taylor diving to save.

The last few minutes turned very scrappy and the game finished with the visitors' lone goal separating the side.

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Symington, Wordsworth, Calvert, Wright, Earl (Smith 69), Holt, Allison, Joel, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Rowntree, Douglas, Mellen, Carter.

Matlock: Barnes, De Girolamo, Green, Doyle-Charles, Yates, Wiley, Rose (Cotterill 83), Williams, Harrad, Waite, Cribley. Subs (not used): Flint, Blake, Wood.

Goals: Harrad 58 pen.

Referee: Ian Gittins.

Half time: 0-0

Crowd: 429.