Workington Reds seal victory over Weston-super-Mare in FA Trophy replay

The game was played at a fast pace throughout and Reds took the honours thanks to a goal in each half from Josh Calvert and Phil McLuckie.

Reds opened the game on top, showing their hosts they meant business from the off and took the lead through Calvert.

But Weston came out in the second half a more determined outfit and grabbed the equaliser. Then they went down to 10 men and Reds got their opportunity.

They dug deep and came back at the visitors and sneaked in with the winning goal before seeing the game out.

Gari Rowntree and Dave Symington were to the fore for Workington, harrying the Weston defence on numerous occasions.

Workington started the game brightly and were on the attack from the off, with a couple of early efforts from Reds going close.

Scott Allison, whose goal earned Reds the replay on Saturday, did well to hold off the defence and got the ball into the path of Symington but his shot was wide.

Symington was involved again as some nice build-up play got the ball into the penalty area where he provided a nice little flick to get the ball into the path of Conor Tinnion.

The attacker got the shot away but the West keeper was up to the challenge and blocked his effort.

Anthony Wright saw his long-range effort go just over the bar and Reds continued to put the pressure on their higher league opponents.

Reds were looking to get that elusive ball in and over the top of their rivals, and it nearly worked on a couple of occasions.

But Weston were quick on the break as Jake Reid saw his chance put out for a corner, which the Reds defence dealt with easily.

Reds went back on the attack and Symington put in a great cross to the far post which the keeper could only parry and he tried to catch it on the second attempt but it had gone out for a corner.

Tinnion stepped up and looped the ball in but the wind whipped it right out and over the bar.

Then came the chance of the half as Tinnion got the ball in to Allison who had time to turn and take the shot but Luke Purnell was on fire and blocked the shot with his legs.

It only came back out to Matty Douglas who thumped the ball back goalwards but Purnell again turned the effort away, this time for a corner.

But Workington eventually saw their pressure pay off as they took the lead, much to the delight of the home faithful.

Tinnion lifted the corner in and the ball was cleared by the Weston defence but only as far as Josh Calvert.

And the defender took aim and thumped the ball past the defenders and keeper into the corner of the goal.

Gari Rowntree was harrying the defence and he did well to win the ball back in his own half and raced up the wing but he was brought down, earning Ashley Harper a yellow card in the process.

Into the 40th minute and Weston looked to level the game with a dangerous cross that went across Aaran Taylor’s goal.

But Rowntree was there to put the pressure on the chasing attacker and defused the danger for Reds.

Into the last couple of minutes of the first half and there was excitement at both ends as first Symington got into space and took a shot which Purnell just managed to save.

Then, play shot up to the Reds goal area where Calvert had to step in and make a crucial tackle to stop Jake Reid but it stayed 1-0 at half-time.

The second half started at a similar tempo and there was action at both ends as Weston upped their game.

A Gethyn Hill shot went straight into the arms of Taylor and then a cross from Rowntree was just held up in the wind and drifted out over the bar.

The equaliser, when it came, did not come with a bang, instead it was more of a whimper.

The ball came to Naby Diallo and he was allowed to shoot unchallenged through a sea of defenders and past Taylor in the Reds goal.

But Reds nearly had the perfect answer as a header from Calvert ricocheted back off the crossbar.

Then Rowntree battled hard to get a cross back into the box and it was met by Tinnion, who turned and took the shot but it was too high.

Douglas did well to get a cross in on the right hand side, finding Waterston who looked to fire into the far corner but the ball ran past its target and out for a goal kick.

Allison found his way into the referee’s book as he was shown a yellow card after a challenge with goalscorer Diallo.

Then there was turmoil when Ashley Harper was handed a second yellow card and sent from the field after a clash with McLuckie.

And seconds later, Reds were back in front. A Tinnion cross was floated in and McLuckie rose up to head home and beat Purnell.

Weston did not lie down and, despite their numerical disadvantage, they were causing some consternation for the Reds defence.

A Jake Lee shot went just wide of Taylor’s goal as he could only watch and Weston were throwing everything at their hosts, who were just looking to hang on. And hang on they did to reach the next round, where the reward is a home tie with National League Bromley.

Match Facts

Reds: Taylor, Douglas, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Calvert, Wright, Symington, McLuckie, Allison, Waterston, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Joel, Wilson, Earl, Holt, Mellen.

Goals: Calvert 32, McLuckie 70.

Yellow cards: Allison 66, Wright 84.

Weston: Purnell, Harper, Greenslade, Cane, Smith, Lee, Kington, Diallo, Reid (Hunter 61), Welch, Hill. Subs (not used): Morris-Edwards, Plummer, Llewellyn, Pope.

Goals: Diallo 54.

Red card: Harper (two yellows) 69.

Yellow cards: Cane 60.

Referee: Glen Hart.

Half time: 1-0.

Crowd: 576.