Workington Reds failed to get the better of Matlock Town as they were beaten 3-1 by the Derbyshire side for the second time in five days at Borough Park on Saturday.

This was the third meeting between the sides in a week, with the teams having met in their original FA Cup last Saturday and in the replay on Tuesday night.

Reds were boosted by the return of striker Scott Allison, who missed the midweek game through injury and there was also a debut for Elliot Newby, who has joined on a month's loan from Barrow.

The game got off to a lively start and Matlock goalkeeper Philip Barnes had to be at his best to keep out Dave Symington's free-kick on six minutes.

Newby then had a shot from distance which went wide and, although the hosts felt that Barnes had got a touch on it, the referee disagreed.

Matlock's first real chance came on nine minutes when Michael Williams was denied by Aaran Taylor following a counter attacking move.

The visitors came even closer when former Rotherham and Boston striker Marc Newsham headed Niall McManus's cross onto the upright.

And, on 19 minutes, the away side took the lead when Marcus Dinanga finished off a flowing move and Reds were experiencing deja vu.

Dinanga continued to make his presence felt and, on 25 minutes, he set up Newsham who was denied by Aaran Taylor.

Reds tried to push for an equaliser before half-time and had a penalty appeal waved away for handball following a Jake Simpson corner.

Both Simpson and Joe McGee were denied by Matlock's veteran stopper Barnes before the break while, at the other end, Michael Williams attempted to recreate David Beckham's famous goal against Wimbledon, but his effort went wide.

Matlock went into the break a goal up and were good value for it.

But whatever Reds joint managers Dave Hewson and Lee Andrews said at half-time clearly had some effect.

Three minutes after the restart, Reds hit Matlock on the break and McGee's cross was turned in by Newby to give the youngster a dream start to life at Borough Park.

Matlock responded well after conceding and were close to retaking the lead shortly after the Newby goal, but Jake Simpson made a crucial goal-line clearance.

Symington tried his luck from distance from 25 yards, but his effort went wide with just over an hour played and it was Matlock who would strike next.

Dinanga and Newsham linked up well again with the latter firing past Taylor to put the visitors 2-1 ahead on 65 minutes.

Both sides then made their first changes of the game with Reds swapping Conor Tinnion for Nathan Waterston and Matlock bringing on Curtis Morrison for Newsham.

Waterston nearly got an assist minutes after coming on when he flicked the ball to Jake Simpson whose 25-yard piledriver was deflected behind.

On 75 minutes, Newby nearly scored his second of the game in bizarre fashion when his corner looped over Barnes and ended up on the roof of the net.

Dinanga was having a good game for Matlock and he had another effort beaten away by Taylor with four minutes to play.

Three minutes were added on with Reds still in search of an equaliser, but they were finished off when Edward Cribley fired home from just inside the box to seal an impressive and deserved 3-1 win for Matlock.

MATCH FACTS

Teams:

REDS: Taylor, Simpson, Symington, May, Douglas, McLuckie, Newby, Wilson, Allison, McGee,

Tinnion (Waterston 68). Subs not used: Kilifin, Hebson, Henderson, Bethwaite.

GOALS: Newby (48)

MATLOCK: Barnes, Marsden, Green, Doyle-Charles, A Yates, Wiley, McManus, Williams, Newsham,

Dinanga, Cribley. Subs not used: Wilson, DeGirolamo, J Yates, Morrison, Jameson.

GOALS: Dinanga (19), Newsham (65), Cribley (90).

REFEREE: Graeme Hopper

ATTENDANCE: 435.

STAR MAN: Elliot Newby - made his presence felt on his debut. A shrewd loan signing.