It wasn’t the victory so desperately wanted by the Workington management pair of Dave Hewson and Lee Andrews.

But it was a performance which helped lift the gloom that has descended in recent weeks with the team slipping into the relegation zone.

A totally committed performance by the Cumbrians earned a richly deserved point, which on another day, could have even yielded three.

The Reds joint bosses had asked their players to stand up and be counted and if there were even the slightest doubts that they weren’t standing shoulder to shoulder behind them, they were dispelled by the determination which was shown in an absorbing contest.

This was no drab goal-less stalemate. Indeed, the surprise was that neither side could produce at least one goal to decide it.

Reds were the better side in the first half, which for long periods was played in Northwich territory, and after the change-over, it became more of an open, even contest with opportunities and half chances at both ends.

It also got a little tasty at times with four players booked from either side as the tackles became a little reckless as the contest bubbled to a conclusion.

Reds had two decent opportunities to take the lead in the first half but failed narrowly with both.

A Gary Rowntree free-kick was mis-headed back across goal by a home defender and, although Sam Joel got there first, he directed his header just past the post.

Then into the two minutes of added time and Conor Tinnion got away down the left, cut into goal on his favoured foot but instead of shooting across the keeper tried to beat him at his near post and only succeeded in hitting the side netting.

Former Reds winger Joe Mwasile had the best effort for Nantwich which was deflected over the bar while Aaron Taylor easily held a free-kick from Sean Cooke.

The second half really flowed and Joel had a chance when put away by Tinnion. He did everything right, coming inside past two defenders but his shot was always rising and cleared the bar.

Joel also turned provider in laying the ball into the path of Tinnion and we all expected the net to bulge from just outside the box but his shot flew just wide.

Then Jason Walker teed up Jordan Holt but the Carlisle youngster snatched at his shot from the edge of the area and it soared over the bar.

Nantwich had a good spell in the closing quarter and their best move of the game ended with Craig Lindfield turning a low cross into the net from close range, but fortunately, the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.

There was a moment of alarm for Reds when Mwasile went on one of his searching runs into the box and his fierce low shot was spilled by Taylor at full-stretch. Substitute Aaron Knight moved in for the kill but great cover defence from Matty Douglas saw him back to clear off his toes.

It was in this crucial phase, with Nantwich forcing the pace, that Reds excelled in defence, making a series of brave, close-up blocks with all the back-four involved.

Reds almost snatched the points in the three minutes added on. Substitute Kieran Maguire broke away and, although his shot was beating the diving keeper Fabian Speiss, it just curled away outside the foot of the post.

Match Facts

Nantwich: Speiss, Morgan, Barnes, Stair, Mullarkey, Bell (Bourne 45), Mwasile, Lawrie, Saunders (Malkin 65), Cooke, Lindfield (Knight 77). Subs (not used) Phillips, Hawkins.

Workington: Taylor, Douglas, Rowntree, Wordsworth, May, Mellen, Joel (Maguire 80), Holt (Hubbold 89), Walker, Allison, Tinnion. Subs (not used) Casson, Cowperthwaite, Mossop.

Referee: David Croft

Crowd: 378

Star Man: Jamie Mellen