Chasetown 1 Workington Reds 3

Workington Reds came good in the second half to progress in the FA Trophy and collect the £4,000 prize-money.

But it hadn’t looked a formality after a goalless first half in which Chasetown had looked the sharper side.

From the league below, the hosts had been lively and intent on causing a shock as Reds seemed indecisive, particularly going forward.

Crucially though, Workington were solid at the back, affording excellent cover to rookie goalkeeper Tom Fowler.

There were a couple of goalmouth scrambles and occasions when Reds defenders put in brave blocks.

On two other occasions, low crosses screamed across the face of the Reds goal without anyone being able to get a touch.

As it happened, young Fowler only had to make one save. That was right at the end of the half when Muzzy Nduna got on the end of a deep cross and a crisp, first-time volley was blocked on the line by the keeper’s legs.

In fact, Chasetown keeper Curtis Pond had to make two decent saves when Workington did find some penetration.

Conor Tinnion had Pond scrambling across his line to hold on to a shot on the run and, in a similar burst, from Sam Joel as another low drive was smothered by Pond at the second attempt.

Reds were forced to reorganise just before half-time when Sam Smith went down in the Chasetown penalty area after a tangle of legs resulted in him catching his studs in the turf.

He was stretchered off with badly swollen ankle and, in the reshuffle, Phil McLuckie moved to right-back with Matty Douglas taking over at centre-back. Rob Wilson came into the midfield.

If the first half was ordinary, the second period was excellent from a Workington point-of-view.

Pond was in action early to deny Scott Allison and Dave Symington as there was more urgency and penetration about the Cumbrians.

The breakthrough came after only six minutes of play in the second period. Tinnion swung over a right-wing corner and, under pressure from Dan Wordsworth, Chasetown’s Ryan Wynter deflected the ball into his own net.

From that point, Workington looked dangerous every time they went forward and it was no surprise when Joel was put through and calmly slotted past Pond into the bottom corner.

The best move of the match saw Workington sweep forward from deep in defence until Jordan Holt fired in a screamer from just inside the area which Pond somehow turned over the bar.

The third goal came on 78 minutes when the industrious Allison cleverly lifted the ball over the last defender for Joel to go on and drive home past Pond.

Chasetown almost pulled one straight back when a curling free-kick from Danny Cocks was met by James O’Neill’s head and Fowler had to make a super save, twisting in mid air to turn round the post.

The home side did manage to reduce the arrears five minutes from the end when substitute George Cater finished off a good move.

But it wasn’t enough to unsettle the Reds who should have had a fourth in time added on but Nathan Waterston hit the post from close range.

Chasetown: Pond, Baker, Mzungwana, Flattley (Hayward 63), O’Neill, O’Reilly, Wynter (J Lovatt 67), Langston, Nduna, Whieldon (Cater 78), Cocks. Subs (not used) C Lovatt, Sedgley.

Goal: Cater (85).

Workington: Fowler, Douglas, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Smith (Wilson 43), McLuckie, Symington (Waterston 76), Holt (Mellen 82), Allison, Joel, Tinnion. Sub (not used) Whitehead.

Goals: Wynter og (51), Joel (59, 78).

Referee: Matthew Law

Crowd: 257

Star Man: Sam Joel