Workington Reds 1 Frickley Athletic 3: Workington Reds remain outside of the Evo Stik Premier play-off places after a disappointing 3-1 home loss at the hands of Frickley Athletic.

Frickley continued their fine run of form against the top sides but boss Derek Townsley would not have been happy with some of the goals Reds conceded.

Reds got into their stride and with the help of fine performances from Joe McGee and Anthony Wright they got one goal back through the head of Kyle May.

But then Scott Allison missed with a penalty attempt and Frickley picked up a late third goal to seal the victory.

Reds started well after winning a corner in the second minute but it was well dealt with by the Frickley defence and they broke away with Jacob Hazel and won a free kick at the opposite end.

In just the third minute the visitors went ahead as the ball was swung in from the right hand side by Steven Jeff and John Cyrus got his head to it to beat Jonny Jamieson in goal and score.

Reds tried to strike back immediately as Conor Tinnion put in a good run. He crossed in from the left but the ball went just beyond the outstretched boot of Scott Allison.

Tinnion took the corner and on a second attempt put the ball into the area but efforts from both Robbie Hebson and then Joe McGee were halted.

There was uproar as Frickley went ahead 2-0 on 18 minutes as it looked as though Tyler Williams put it in at the far post with his hand.

The Workington players and bench appealed against it but the referee, after consulting the linesman, said the goal would stand.

The goal was handed to Cyrus as it was said his initial shot was already over the line before Williams got to it.

Reds tried to come back into the game after 26 minutes when Anthony Wright got the final touch but bundled the keeper into the goal along with the ball.

The referee had no choice but to disallow the goal and give Frickley a free kick.

Reds continued to pressurise Frickley as Hebson’s shot was cleared for a corner.

The ball came back out to Wright but his shot was blocked by the keeper and in the ensuing melee it was cleared upfield.

Tinnion then curled in a lovely cross and McGee rose to head it home but the keeper, a former Polish international, produced a great save to put it out for a corner.

Reds were unlucky not to go ahead when Wright’s shot struck the bar and several players took their chance before it went out for yet another corner as Reds hit a purple patch.

Jake Simpson curled the ball in from the corner and Kyle May rose up to head it into the back of the net.

Allison was then brought down in the area and he stepped up to take the resulting penalty but he shot it narrowly wide of the post.

Wright, who was having a superb game, was pulled back just outside the area and won a free kick.

Simpson lined up over the ball but his shot went right into the arms of the keeper.

Reds were bombarding the Frickley goal and won two corners in succession but they couldn’t turn the pressure into goals.

McGee put in a great ball for Tinnion and he took on the keeper who just managed to get a foot to it and halt the shot.

Reds began the second half in a similar vein. Wright was brought down 35-yards out and McGee drilled in a low free kick which was cleared.

Then both McGee and Tinnion had shots that forced saves from keeper Malkowski.

Against the run of play, Frickley won a corner as Jamieson was forced to tip a shot over the bar. It was swung in by Hazel but the chance was cleared and Reds broke down to the Frickley goal where McGee forced yet another save from their keeper.

Wilson was handed a yellow card for a foul just outside the area and from the free kick Frickley upped their game.

It was driven in by Parkinson and looked to be heading for the top corner of the goal but Jamieson got his fingertips to it to send it over the bar.

Substitute Chris Wood then had a chance as the Reds defence scrambled to clear their lines.

McGee took another shot at goal from a distance but again Malkowski proved up to the challenge.

Reds won a corner but it went wide before Sam Smith managed to keep it in at the far side and then Joe McGee put in a sharp curling shot but the keeper just held on.

With 15 minutes to go, Frickley wrapped up the game. Good work from Williams saw him beat two defenders and lay the ball across the goalmouth for Hazel to make an easy tap in and make it 3-1.

Tinnion was fouled by Hazel but he kicked out at the striker and earned himself a yellow card in the process and then Sam Akeroyd also saw yellow for a collision with Wright.

Another good save came from Malkowski as Wilson turned and struck a shot at goal but he pushed it out for a corner to keep his side in the clear.

Reds tried to come back in the five added minutes of time but Wilson’s shot went wide of the mark and then nobody was there to meet Tinnion’s cross as the clock ticked down, leaving Reds on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline

Workington Reds: Jamieson, Simpson, Smith, May, Calvert, Wright, Hebson (McCartney 72), Wilson, Allison, McGee, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Hammell, Studholme, Bethwaite, Mitchell.

Goal: May 35.

Cards: Wilson (yellow 63), Tinnion (yellow 78).

Frickley: Malkowski, Davie, Jeff, Parkinson, Cyrus, Ible, Akeroyd, Gooda, Hazel, Hinsley (Wood 60), Williams. Subs (Not used): Wood, Stratford, Rose, Hood.

Goals: Cyrus 5, 18, Hazel 75.

Cards: Parkinson (yellow 21), Gooda (yellow 32), Ackroyd (yellow 80).

Referee: D Underwood.

Crowd: 418.