Workington Reds 1-2 Farsley Celtic

Dave Symington scored a late goal to give Workington a chance of repeating their exploits at Farsley earlier in the season but it wasn't enough as they fell to a 2-1 loss at Borough Park.

At Farsley, Reds had scored twice in time added on to earn a 3-3 draw but couldn’t repeat the feat last night.

It was a battling effort by injury-hit Workington against a side who look like qualifying for the play-offs.

A goal in each half from Nathan Turner gave Farsley an important win which virtually ended Reds' own play-off hopes.

Workington, still not giving-up on a play-off place, had to make changes again with Josh Calvert having to miss out with a groin injury.

Calvert is one of four Workington players who may need a hernia operation at the end of the season. Sam Smith, who replaced Calvert after 20 minutes at Buxton on Saturday, was given the starting role.

Dan Wordsworth is expected to have an operation at the end of the season and Scott Allison, who has just had a scan, will probably follow. Both were in the starting line-up.

Phil McLuckie was the first to announce that he was to have an operation for his hernia and has not figured in the side for three weeks.

Farsley started the evening in the last play-off place, 11 points clear of the Reds from a game more, so it was a must-win contest for the hosts.

The kick-off was put back almost 15 minutes after Farsley arrived late, and were given extra time to prepare.

Reds had a chance in the first minute when Steven Rigg was put in on goal but Kyle Trenerry blocked with his legs. Then Rigg cut in from the right, checked and put in a low shot which Trennery turned aside.

Farsley hit back and there was a chance for Ben Atkinson but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Dan Wordsworth.

When Farsley came again, Wordsworth under-hit his pass back to Taylor and the goalkeeper had to rush out and concede a corner.

There was another corner after a left-wing cross beat everyone and, when it was returned to the box Smith, at full stretch, put the ball over the bar.

Farsley went in front on nine minutes when Turner was played in on the right and he went on to beat Taylor with a low shot from 12 yards.

It had been a lively start and Farsley looked particularly sharp as thy looked to clinch a play-off place.

Rob Wilson led the Workington response but his low drive was blocked and then Allison burst into the area and Trennery made another good stop at the expense of a fruitless corner.

Then, a fine run and cross from Symington saw the ball cleared to Conor Tinnion on the edge but his shot was blocked.

It was a good spell for the Reds and Farsley were being limited now going forward as the home side dominated possession and territory.

Farsley did get a break from a free-kick on halfway. When the ball was cleared, it fell to Danny Ellis who hit one first time and Taylor had to be alert to hold on.

Celtic had another chance from a corner but Paul Walker headed well wide.

Tinnion then showed typically clever work on the ball to cut in the area but his shot on the run was straight at Trennery.

Workington had an early chance from a free-kick two minutes into the second half but Tinnion’s curled cross was headed away. Reds did force a corner and Tinnion’s flag-kick flew right across goal and out of play, beyond the far post.

Then, Rigg was fouled, breaking down the middle but Wilson’s free-kick was too high as both Rigg and Matty Douglas failed to connect.

Then, Douglas did well, cutting in from the right but his cross curled behind the goal.

Farsley weren’t offering a lot in attack but there was a moment of concern when Luke Parkin got away down the left and his cross was a good one, needing a brave block by Wordsworth.

Workington made a change after 63 minutes when Jordan Holt replaced Anthony Wright in midfield and he arrived to see Wilson unlucky with a first-time volley from 30 yards which flew wide.

A poor clearance fell to Tinnion who jinked round his man but didn’t really connect properly and his shot caused Trennery no problems.

Farsley made a change on 72 minutes with Graeme McKibbin replacing full-back Isaac Baldwin.

They also broke well down the right through Ben Atkinson but, although his cross was cleared they stayed on the attack and scored a crucial second goal, Turner was on the end of a cross and his header beat Taylor to go in off the post.

Workington still kept pushing and there was a terrific scramble in the Farsley box before the ball was cleared. Then, Douglas got through but his shot lacked any sting and Trennery gathered it comfortably.

The breakthrough came on 86 minutes when Symington thumped home a shot through a crowded area after Farsley failed to clear a Tinnion cross.

There were five minutes added on at the end but Workington couldn’t force an equaliser as they had at the Throstle’s Nest earlier in the season.

Workington: Taylor, Douglas, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Smith, Wright (Holt 63), Symington, Wilson, Allison, Rigg, Tinnion. Subs (not used) Joel, Brown, Whitehead, Mossop.

Farsley: Trennery, L.Turner, Baldwin (McKibbin 73), C. Atkinson, Ellis, Clayton, B. Atkinson, N. Turner, Walker (Murray 80), Cartman (Wells 82), Parkin. Subs (not used) Harris, Boyd.

Referee: Neil Cox

Crowd: 189