Glossop North End 0 Workington Reds 0

Workington will have to try again tomorrow night to progress in the FA Trophy.

On balance, they should have wrapped up their place in today’s draw against dogged home resistance.

Although the first half panned out fairly even, Reds were the better side after the break and created the chances but couldn’t see it through.

The clean sheet, however, meant that Reds have now gone 15 games with only one defeat, a narrow 1-0 reversal at Witton Albion.

At least, when they get to grips again with North End at Borough Park tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm) both will know who awaits the winners in the first round proper.

Saturday’s clash had all the ingredients for a shock result with the underdogs at home, on a bleak, wintery afternoon and playing on a cramped pitch.

Certainly, if Reds weren’t in the right frame of mind, and hadn’t fancied it, they would have been found out by determined, experienced opposition.

In fact, Reds started the game best and Dave Symington had two early sighters with distance shots which were wide. There were also a couple of early corners to test the home defence.

But the first real chance fell to Conor Tinnion after he had got through on the right.

He tried to lift the ball over the lunging figure of keeper Paul Phillips but the Glossop veteran, who is also joint-manager, made an important block.

Gradually, though, Glossop came into the game and midfielder Chris Baguley had three good efforts.

The first, a 25-yard free-kick, flashed just past the post. Then, from similar range, he had Aaran Taylor diving full-length to hold on.

Finally, from Glossop’s best move of the match, the ball was played into the box where Baguley’s close-range shot was smothered by Taylor.

The half ended with Workington’s travelling fans believing Symington had given Reds the lead.

A typically sweet strike from the edge of the area beat Phillips but only rippled the side-netting – deceiving the supporters in to thinking it had found the target.

A couple of early corners in the second half suggested that Glossop were going to pose a problem or two.

But they were well defended and, after that, there were no real opportunities for the hosts to prosper.

Reds, however, had their moments at the other end. Jordan Holt, putting in a typically busy, effective display on his final appearance of his loan spell from Carlisle United, was just wide with a shot from the edge of the area.

Scott Allison climbed well to reach a Symington cross but was just wide with the header.

Probably the best chance fell to Sam Joel but he just delayed pulling the trigger a second or two. And when he did eventually shoot, it was blocked by Phillips.

There seemed little doubt, particularly, in the closing stages that if there was to be a winner, it would come from the Reds.

Allison did have the last opportunity but, from a good position, shot over the bar – his blushes being spared by a raised linesman’s flag.

Glossop North End: Phillips, Haslam, Matty Russell, Matt Russell, Lacy, Meppen-Walter, Oyibo (Rick 74), Gee, Johnson (Owolabi 76), Chippendale (Thomas 36), Baguley. Subs (not used) Hickman, Hill.

Yellow card: Matt Russell

Workington: Taylor, Douglas, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Calvert, Wilson, Symington, Holt, Allison, Joel (Waterston 75), Tinnion. Subs (not used) Earl, Mellen, Fowler

Referee: Elliott Swallow, Blackpool

Crowd: 368

Star Man: Josh Calvert