Workington Reds topple Hartlepool in FA Trophy upset

Reds recorded a spectacular result and a place in the second round draw when Scott Allison volleyed home from a great Nathan Waterston cross.

Waterston had only come into the game minutes before he created the gamebreaker.

It had been deadlocked for over 80 minutes before he hustled the Hartlepool defence to win a crucial ball.

Then he showed his pace down the right flank before putting in a pin-point cross for the on-rushing Scott Allison.

And he made no mistake volleying home with a first touch for one of the greatest goals of the year.

It was looking as though a draw and a replay were going to be on the cards after a game that had everything.

Reds could have taken a 2-0 goal lead in the opening five minutes of the encounter as Hartlepool were caught cold at Borough Park.

First a long kick from Aaran Taylor found Joel and he beat the defender to the ball and took a shot at goal.

The Hartlepool keeper Scott Loach managed to take the menace out of the shot but it continued to trickle towards the goalmouth before Liam Donnelly scrambled back to clear off the line.

Then, just a minute later, another long ball put Scott Allison in the clear. He eyed up the keeper and tried to loft the ball over the top of him but it went just wide.

Play was then halted for a minute as Tomi Adeloye and Taylor collided in the penalty area, going for a 50/50 ball with the Hartlepool player needing some treatment.

It was into the 15th minute before Hartlepool had their first real chance when Connor Newton got in a good cross from the right and Michael Woods tried to slot the ball home but it went wide of the target.

Shortly after, they won a corner in a good position, just 10-yards outside of the area. But Donnelly's effort was a bit of a waste as it struck the wall.

Reds cleared the ball and turned defence into attack as, on the break, Tinnion put in a good ball looking for the run of Allison in the box, he got there on the far side and brought Dave Symington into play.

He looked to turn his defender and get the ball away but his effort was blocked.

Tomi Adeloye got into a dangerous position, bearing down on the Workington goal but in came Dan Wordsworth to make a crucial challenge and clear the danger.

With 12 minutes of the half remaining, Taylor kept Reds level in the game. The dangerous Nicky Deverdics got in a great cross from the left-hand side.

It went right to the rising head of Woods who powered it towards Taylor who showed superb reactions to save and tip the ball over the bar.

Hartlepool were upping the pressure on the home side and another cross from Donnelly had to be scooped up by Taylor, before Adeloye shrugged aside a couple of challenges before hammering the ball over the bar.

Reds looked to battle back into the game and Dave Symington stepped inside and looked to take a shot on his right foot but it took a deflection off one of the visiting defenders and went out for a corner.

Play raced back to the opposite end and a Connor Newton header went wide and, shortly after the half-time whistle, sounded with the scores still level.

Hartlepool came out in the second half with renewed vigour and tried to stamp their authority on the game in the opening exchanges.

But Workington were not going to be bullied on their home turf and they fought back tooth and nail as they game really got interesting.

Taylor was called into action yet again in the 53rd minute as Deverdics took a free-kick just outside the area. He struck it well and it looked as though it was sneaking into the top corner but Taylor leaped up to tip it over the bar.

Wordsworth, who had a superb game in the centre of the defence, hoofed the ball away from danger from the corner.

There were some strong challenges going in from both sides with Matty Douglas showing Reds' intent, winning a great 50/50 ball.

Hartlepool brought on Rhys Oates for Adeloye, who Gari Rowntree was doing a good job to keep quiet.

And it was soon obvious why he was brought on when he showed his pace to race up the right touchline and only a superb tackle from Wordsworth halting his charge.

But it was not going right for the visitors as Reds battled across the park to get their chances, a McLuckie cross just blocked as they bore down on the goal.

It was McLuckie again who looked dangerous on the break as he looked to beat the defender going into the area but a crucial tackle brought his run to a halt.

Back came Hartlepool as another pacey run from Oates had the Reds defence tracking back but as he looked to get his shot away, Anthony Wright got a timely foot in the way to deflect it wide.

Symington then found himself in some space, he shot low but it bobbled on the pitch and went wide.

The game continued to flow back and forth with a header from Cassidy going right into the arms of Taylor.

Symington won a free-kick near the corner and Tinnion whipped a great ball in but the keeper was up quickly to gather.

But Reds kept on battling with several scrambles near the visitors' area before a final shot from Symington was wayward.

Then came the moment of the match. Super sub Nathan Waterston proved his worth in the 82nd minute as he got right into the game and won the ball in a crucial area.

He raced down the right-hand side and put in a superb cross for the on-rushing Scott Allison who struck the ball first time and hammered it into the back of the net.

But Hartlepool came right back in a grandstand finish as a Jonathan Franks effort bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Reds were not content to sit back for the final few minutes and they upped the ante on their opponents.

Waterston, Allison and McLuckie harried the Hartlepool defence and combined with some solid defence from the rear guard they saw out the game to record a superb victory.