Workington produced a remarkable performance to beat FC United of Manchester 2-1 at Borough Park and move fifth in the NPL Premier Division.
The fact was they had been totally out-played in the first-half with the visitors dominating from start to finish and somehow, doggedly and with the help of brilliance from keeper Jim Atkinson they were still level at the break.
In boxing match parlance it might have been called off then with FC United so far on points – but crucially couldn’t find a ko finish.
It under-lined the value of being able to stay in a game in what proved to a hugely entertaining contest in front of a season’s best of 1,026.
The fact that Reds were still afloat was largely down to two top saves from home keeper Jim Atkinson and some resolute defending from the men in front of him.
Workington just couldn’t escape the strong, high pressing to play their natural passing game and it was the visitors who stroked the ball around impressively.
Atkinson’s top save was brilliant – leaping to his right to claw a strike from Dontai Gabodini on to the post and then to safety. He made two more to frustrate FC United whose own keeper Pat Boyes didn’t have one save to make.
Other opportunities had gone astray and when debutant Jake Charles headed in just before half-time the goal was ruled-out for a foul on Atkinson.
Nothing much changed for 15 minutes of the second-half although Boyes had to make his first save to block an effort from Conor Tinnion.
Then when the visitors had a strong penalty shout turned down it was Workington who took over and went in front on 67 minutes. A corner dropped at the far post and in the scramble that followed was poked home by Sam Smith.
Ten minutes later Boyes did well to keep out another Tinnion effort but when he parried Keelan Leslie’s effort on 77 minutes debutant Kitt Nelson was following up to drive home.
The 18-year-old Preston mid-fielder had only been registered in the morning for an initial one-month loan spell in west Cumbria. He only had 26 minutes at the end but showed up well.
Leslie brought another flying save from Boyes, a Fleetwood Town loanee, and the way FC United had dropped-off the pace was a credit to Workington’s persistence and togetherness.
They seemed to be comfortably home and hosed when the visitors were handed a life-line a minute from the end of six added on but Reds held out for an inspired win. Smith turned home a ball into the box when under pressure from Max Cane.
Danny Grainger had sent his side into action without three members of the side who had beaten Lancaster City on Tuesday and with four teenagers on the bench. It was an outstanding response.
