Nantwich 0-1 Workington Reds

Jack Ryan scored a 40th-minute winner at the Weaver Stadium to push Workington Reds into the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-off places.

Ryan headed in a free-kick from Jake Simpson at the end of a very even fist-half, in which, chances were few and far between.

With some other results going Workington’s way, and with two home games to come, the Cumbrians should make the play-offs for a third successive year.

Reds went into the game on top of the 10-game form table, which included seven wins in their last eight games.

Nantwich, third in the table, went into the game knowing that a win would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals.

Workington made five changes from the side which beat Halesowen 1-0 on Saturday – two of them positional.

Sam Smith switched to full-back from central defence while Josh Calvert moved from midfield to centre-back. Rob Wilson returned from injury to partner James Earl in central midfield, while it was a new front pairing in Jack Ryan and Sam Joel.

Smith was soon in action for Reds, heading clear a dangerous cross from the left.

From the start, it appeared as though Reds were playing 4-5-1 with Ryan in the lone striker role.

Tom Peers had the first shot at goal on six minutes but Aaran Taylor, the Workington keeper, held on easily.

Wilson had the first effort for Workington, nipping in and firing a strong cross-shot which was beaten away by keeper Krystian Burzynski.

It was pretty even and, after the home side got pressure on the right-hand side, Matt Bell whipped in a shot which did not extend Taylor.

Wilson picked up a loose clearance to go forward and rattle in a shot which was well held by Burzynski.

There was a close call for Reds on 22 minutes when centre-half Ben Harrison put in a great cross from the left which beat two attackers and both defenders to flash beyond the far post.

Then, Harrison was in trouble at the back when he missed a header but was able to get a second one back to his keeper. He then went down in apparent pain and play was held up for a while as he received treatment.

He couldn’t continue and was replaced by Joel Stair.

Both sides appeared well-matched and it was nip and tuck for possession and territory.

It was Workington who broke the deadlock on 40 minutes. Jake Simpson floated in a free-kick from the left and Ryan rose highest to direct a neat downward header into the bottom corner.

There was a scare right on half-time when Nantwich were awarded a free-kick five yards outside the penalty area.

Peers’ strike was straight at Taylor but it rebounded off his chest and he had to move smartly to re-gather.

Ex-Workington winger Joe Mwasile threatened early in the second half but, after evading James Earl, his cross was blocked by Dan Wordsworth.

Nantwich were seeing plenty of the ball but Workington were defending well as a unit.

On 56 minutes, Nantwich made a double substitution with Peers and Mwasile being replaced by Vinny Mukendi and Steve Jones.

Nantwich had the chance of a shot at goal when skipper Sam Hall was left in space but drilled an effort well wide.

Reds made their first change on 62 minutes when Nathan Waterston replaced the goal scorer Ryan.

Nantwich could have levelled with two chances inside a minute. Wayne Riley was through and got in a shot which was deflected by Calvert. It looked to have wrong-footed Taylor but flew just wide.

The corner was headed out but, from the returned cross, Steve Jones got in a header which appeared to have gone past Taylor until he stretched behind himself to claw the ball away. Simpson completed the clearance.

Workington’s second change came on 71 minutes when Anthony Wright replaced Joel.

Good defending by Smith denied Mukendi when he broke down the right, and then a header by Stair had Taylor scrambling but was just wide.

There was danger for Reds on 83 minutes when Wordsworth brought down Ibou Thouray on the left-hand edge of the area. Steve Jones tried to float his effort into the top corner but it dropped just over.

Taylor took his time retrieving the ball for the goal kick and was booked.

Reds were defending superbly all across the park and Waterston and Wright, the two subs, were prominent in the closing down work they did.

Nantwich appeared to have run out of ideas and offered nothing in the four minutes of time added on.

Nantwich: Burzynski, White, Touray, C.Jones, Harrison (Stair 27), Hall, Hancock, Riley, Peers (Mukendi 56), Bell, Mwasile (S. Jones 56), Subs: (not used) Brooke, Abadaki.

Workington: Taylor, Simpson, Smith, Wordsworth, Calvert, Earl, Allison, Wilson, Ryan (Waterston 62), Joel (Wright 71), Tinnion. Subs (not used): Rowntree, May, Symington.

Referee: Peter Gibbons

Crowd: 512

Star Man: Dan Wordsworth