Matlock Town 1 Workington Reds 2

If the heart-stopping drama before the game had a welcome outcome so, too, did the nerve-tingling contest which followed.

For while Reds supporters Simon Wilson and Elaine Heron were the day’s real heroes, Jack Ryan earned the plaudits on the field for a deserved late winning goal for the west Cumbrians.

Workington had drawn at Causeway Lane in the FA Cup, and in the week that followed lost to the Gladiators in the replay and in the league clash at Borough Park.

So, there was a special satisfaction in recording the first win in four attempts against the Derbyshire side, although it was the manner in which the victory was achieved which so pleased the management team and the travelling supporters.

Workington’s best efforts this season have mainly been reserved for Borough Park but this was an outstanding team performance at the home of one of their promotion rivals.

There was a desire and determination all around the field from the Workington side, which allied to some bright, pacey football, made them the better side for long periods.

The fact they conceded the first goal of the game after only seven minutes made the win even sweeter, especially as it lifted them to only a point outside the play-offs.

Indeed, with another big game looming on Saturday at home to Whitby Town, Workington know a win then could even hoist them to second in the table.

Matlock’s best moments in the first half were crammed into the opening ten minutes when they took the lead and went close on another two occasions.

The goal came on seven minutes after good work out wide right by Marc Newsham, who found the dangerous Marcus Dinanga just inside the box.

He was closed down but still found the right pass to Ted Cribley and the former Barrow winger slotted a low shot past Aaran Taylor from ten yards.

But gradually, Workington took charge and started to pose several problems, working the ball crisply and positively through a hard-working midfield to a variety of lively attacking options.

Conor Tinnion was a constant menace, twisting, turning and teasing opponents, while Scott Allison was all-action, a willing front-runner desperate to get on the end of anything played forward.

But the man who has won over the Reds fans with his steadily improved form has been Ryan, whose fitness, touch and physical presence have been key factors in the team’s recent progress.

He set-up Tinnion and James Earl for shots which could have produced the equaliser and was a constant menace to the Matlock defence with his strength and clever hold-up play.

But it was Tinnion who did grab the Workington equaliser on 41 minutes with one of his special finishes.

Switching flanks with Dave Symington, he left a defender for dead and cut in from the right where, from an acute angle hammered a thunderous, low shot across the keeper Phil Barnes into the bottom corner.

There was little doubt Workington deserved their goal after dominating the first half but they had to defend well at the start of the second period when Matlock did create a couple of chances.

Dinanga, cutting in from the left, curled his shot past Taylor but round the outside of the post and then Nwsham headed wide from a good position.

But Workington held them well and were starting to dictate themselves, looking the side most likely to win it.

Barnes made a fine point blank save from Tinnion, while Rob Wilson was not too far away from distance.

The game had been open and entertaining but the one flashpoint on 82 minutes ended in referee Dean Watson showing a red card to home captain Joe Doyle-Charles.

He has been fouled by Earl (the pair had history from the season’s first meeting in the FA Cup) but reacted badly, jumping to his feet, raising his arms and charging at the Reds midfielder.

A general melee followed before the referee correctly produced a red card for the Matlock player and a yellow for Earl’s initial foul.

Now, Reds had their chance to go on and win the game – which they did two minutes from the end of normal time.

The industrious Jake Simpson chased a no-hope ball to the by-line and kept it in play.

Although his cross was intercepted by a home defender, young substitute Sam Joel dispossessed him and then teed up Ryan, who scored from six yards.

Matlock Town: Barnes, Marsden, Green, Doyle-Charles, Degirolamo, Wiley, McManus (Acar 83), Williams, Newsham (Morrison 65), Dinanga, Cribley. Subs (not used) A. Yates, J. Yates, Pursehouse.

Workington: Taylor, Simpson, Rowntree, May, Calvert, Earl (Wright 84), Symington, Wilson, Ryan, Allison (Joel 84), Tinnion. Subs (not used) Smith, Waterston, Douglas.

Referee: Dean Watson

Crowd: 400

Star Man: Jack Ryan