Workington Reds slip to their first defeat of the season in disappointing fashion at Marine

Workington Reds slipped to their first defeat of the season in disappointing fashion at Marine.

Two second-half goals gave the Merseysiders a deserved victory after Aaran Taylor had saved a 32nd-minute penalty.

Reds had chances in the first half and Sam Joel missed the best opportunity minutes after Marine had taken the lead.

With Conor Tinnion still missing through injury, Workington were forced to make two changes for the trip to Merseyside.

Star man in Saturday’s win over Halesowen, midfielder Anthony Wright, had to miss out after his partner gave birth over the weekend, while substitute Nathan Waterston had to drop out through injury.

James Earl was given the nod in midfield with Jordan Williams and Tom Fowler new on the bench.

Reds had the first shot at goal in the first minute when Marine failed to clear a long throw from Jake Simpson and a first-time effort from Scott Allison was just wide.

There was a moment of danger for Reds when James Murray got clear on the right and Sam Smith did well to get back and challenge, being fouled in the process.

Another Simpson long throw caused Marine a problem in the sixth minute but a back-header from Jack Ryan went straight into the arms of the waiting Germano Mendes.

A bouncing ball caused more problems for the Marine defence and Sam Joel just couldn’t get there before it ran through to Mendes.

Dan Wordsworth was inches away from connecting with an Allison cross, and then Joel had a shot blocked by Mendes. From the rebound, Ryan curled his shot over the bar.

Reds had been dominant in the opening 20 minutes, with possession and territory but had not been able to make the breakthrough.

Marine had to make an early change when George Hassall went off after taking a knock to be replaced by Dean Shacklock.

When Marine got forward, James Edgar had a shot deflected into the arms of Aaran Taylor and then Danny Mitchley drove a shot wide from the edge of the area.

There was a strange moment midway through the half when a drone approached the ground and, for a short while, hovered over the pitch. In rugby league, the game would have been stopped until it moved on but there was no delay.

Reds went close on 28 minutes when a Josh Calvert header was in turn headed off the line by Peter Wylie.

Marine’s first corner came on 32 minutes and it produced a penalty for Marine. Wordsworth brought down Mitchley and the home skipper got up to take the spot-kick. It wasn’t a good one and Taylor went down to make the block and Reds cleared.

Immediately, there could have been a penalty at the other end when Joel seemed to be pushed as he tried to reach a ball at the byline but the referee saw nothing wrong.

Marine came back and Reds were sliced open by a lovely cross from Murray while Billy Smart volleyed over the bar.

It was Reds' turn to force the pace and they had another claim for a penalty when Rob Wilson went down in the area but play was waved on.

Two minutes were added on and, in the first, Mendes had to go full length to turn round a shot from Wilson.

In the first minute of the second half, Allison was booked for a late challenge on Wylie and immediately Marine broke and Murray put Edgar in on goal. But as Taylor closed him down, he shot high over the bar.

But, on 49 minutes, Marine did take the lead. Murray cut in from the right and his low cross was slid home by Smart.

Immediately, Reds responded by bringing on Matty Douglas for James Earl with Calvert moving into midfield.

Workington were almost caught out by a quickly taken Marine free-kick but Taylor blocked Mitchley’s shot on the run.

At the other end, Reds should have been level on 55 minutes. Ryan did well to win the ball, under pressure, to play in Joel but with only Mendes to beat he shot wide – kicking the advertising board in his frustration.

Workington had a third claim for a penalty turned down on the hour. Joel played a neat one-two with Ryan and, as he burst into the area, he went down under a challenge but again the referee saw nothing wrong.

On 63 minutes, Marine doubled their lead. A corner was swung deep across goal and the header back across from Michael Grogan was stopped by Taylor but he couldn’t hold on and Adam Hughes netted from close range.

Marine were proving the better team in the second half and, from a free-kick, Wordsworth had to make a vital headed clearance.

On 72 minutes, Marine won another corner and this time Grogan climbed highest but headed just wide.

Eight minutes later, Workington made their second change when Jamie Mellen replaced Dave Symington.

Workington’s second-half threat had been minimal, apart from the chance to Joel, but Simpson did get forward to try his luck on goal with a snap shot which flew wide.

A splendid flowing move by Marine ended with Mitchley firing just wide of Taylor’s left hand post.

Workington did come close on 85 minutes when Ryan laid the ball into the path of Joel and his low shot was cleared off the line by James Short.

Reds came again and, after an Allison shot was blocked by Mendes, a header from Ryan dropped onto the roof of the net.

It was too little, too late from the Reds who had been disappointing, particularly in the second-half after a fairly even first period.

Marine: Mendes, Wylie, Short, Hughes, Grogan, Smart, Murray, Bailey, Mitchley (Hamilton 86), Hassall (Shacklock 10), Edgar. Subs: Strickland, Kisimba, Shaw.

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Smith, Wordsworth, Calvert, Earl (Douglas 50), Symington (Mellen 80), Wilson, Ryan, Joel, Allison. Subs: Douglas, McDonald, Williams, Fowler.

Referee: Michael Barlow (Bolton)

Crowd: 264