A last-minute penalty sent Workington Reds out of the FA Trophy at Borough Park last night as they lost 2-1 to Runcorn Linnets.
Jamie Rainford slotted home the 89th minute spot-kick to complete the Linnets’ come-back after they had trailed 1-0 at the break.
But Reds boss Danny Grainger was very disappointed about the award -not that it was given but because Workington had an exact same foul ignored in the first half.
“Reuben (Jerome) went down in the box off exactly the same challenge but nothing was given and all you want is consistency,” he said.
Reds, with five changes from the side which beat Ramsbottom last Tuesday, had started apprehensively but after settling down shaded the first-half and deserved the interval lead.
Jerome had gone closest when he just couldn’t get enough on a low cross from James Hooper and the ball was hacked clear, almost on the line.
Jim Atkinson made a couple of good saves to deny Runcorn when they had their best attacking moments in the first half.
The deadlock was broken on 44 minutes after Linnets keeper Danny Tabener had made a superb save to turn over an effort from Lewis Reilly which was heading for the top corner.
But from the corner Niall Moran climbed well to head down and the ball struck the post before Jerome finished off from close range.
Reilly was denied by the legs of Tabener in the second half and substitute Dav Symington put in a superb 40 yard run and looked set to finish but sliced his shot on the run wide of the mark.
From the hour mark, though, Runcorn looked the stronger side and without creating any clear cut chances did shape as though were the likeliest to score.
It looked as though it was heading straight to a penalty shoot-out to decide who travelled to North Shields in the next round. Indeed it was a penalty which decided the outcome, but in normal time as the Linnets were awarded one in the 89th minute after a foul in the box and Rainford made no mistake.
“It was a game that could have gone either way but I was pleased with the lads who came in after they hadn’t played many minutes recently. It’d all about focusing on Saturday’s game at Bootle and I’m looking forward to training on Thursday,” said Grainger.
His new assistant Terry Mitchell was in the dug-out with him for the first time.
Mitchell, 61, had kept Blyth Spartans in National North last season after they had looked in trouble but left the club last month.
He had previously managed Consett in the Northern League and before that worked as assistant manager at both Gateshead and Stockport County.
Mitchell, who has been talking with Grainger for a week or so, has previously worked with Newcastle United Academy and West Allotment Celtic.
Meanwhile Grainger has also announced that defender Ekow Coker, who has played in early season games after making his debut against Mossley, has left the club.
“I thought it was unfair to keep him when he wasn;t playing and I believe he may be looking at playing at our level nearer home. He has been on trial in Scotland and that’’s something he might be going back to as well,” said Grainger.
