Workington’s disappointing week ended with a 1-0 home defeat to Bootle to check their title challenge.
They had been held 1-1 on Tuesday by bottom side Ramsbottom and rarely looked like getting the better of a solid, workmanlike Bootle side.
Their first serious shot on goal didn’t come util the 88th minute when Bootle keeper Josh Ollerenshaw turned away a good effort from Keelan Leslie.
The only goal of the game had come five minutes earlier when Jack McGowan volleyed home a headed clearance from Dan Wordsworth.
Bootle had started the livelier side and both Ben Rydel and William Smart tested Jim Atkinson in the first half.
Their best chance came early in the second-half when Nivaldo Ferriera Rodrigues was put clean through and although his shot beat Atkinson it cannoned behind off the post.
Workington lacked the guile to open up the Bootle defence and didn’t create enough from wide areas.
There was a moment in the first half from a corner when Reds could have profited but the ball flashes across goal without anyone being able to get a final touch before it was cleared.
There was am bizarre moment when Reuben Jerome went down just inside the area, clearly pushed from behind but referee Andrew Daniels only produced a yellow card for the Workington forward.
Skipper James McCarten was a dominant figure at the back especially when Workington had strong pressure in the five minutes of added time.
A couple of blocked shots in the area and a header over the top from hard-working Steven Rigg were as near as Reds could get to scoring.
How a week in football can change! A win at Leek last Saturday put them level with their Staffordshire rivals. Now they are five points behind them and nine in arrears of leaders Macclesfield with no games in hand.
Manager Danny Grainger said: “I thought we looked a tired side. I’m not going to call them because they have been magnificent.
“That’s the first home defeat on a Saturday since the opening day and is the end of an unbeaten run of 14 games with just our second defeat in 22 matches.
“We have a couple of training sessions during the week to get ourselves focused again for Runcorn Linnets next Saturday.”
The Reds boss also hinted that he might be able to bring in a couple of new faces by the weekend.
He had signed 17-year-old Kai Nugent on loan from Carlisle United in time to play against Bootle and he gave him 29 minutes from the bench.
“He’s a player I think a lot of from what I’ve seen and I thought he was lively and full of energy when he came on. It’s a good move for both clubs,” said Grainger.
