Everyone with an interest in Workington Reds would have taken a point from today’s NPL Premier Division clash at Ashton United.
So the 2-2 draw was a satisfying result, although it could so easily have been a win as Ashton scored their second equaliser in the second minute of the six added on at the end.
The reason for limited hopes on the trip to third-placed Ashton was the make-up of the travelling party following a crop of injuries and suspensions. An attempted loan signing had been delayed.
Jordan Little, who last played for Reds, three years ago was loaned from Carlisle City and started in what was a solid starting line-up.
But limitations were obvious from the bench where manager Danny Grainger had to fill in, along with second goalkeeper Danny Eccles and three raw teenagers.
Sam Hetherington is a 17-year-old mid-fielder who was brought in from Carlisle United; Lewis Moore was recalled from his loan to Penrith while Blackpool winger Dannen Francis had at least started and scored for Reds at NPL level.
It looked as though Reds were riding their luck in the first half when Ashton twice hit the post but it was Workington who took the lead on 37 minutes.
Brad Hubbold played in young Kitt Nelson and the Preston loanee cut in before striking a low shot into the far corner.
Unfortunately Reds only held the lead for two minutes but they claimed offside when the ball was played in and Jake Charles was on hand to steer it home from close range. The referee consulted his assistant before awarding the goal.
Workington played particularly well in the second-half and shocked their hosts by regaining the lead on 80 minutes. Top scorer Dav Symington worked a shooting position for himself on the edge of the area before crashing home into the far corner.
A win would have been a fantastic result under the circumstances but in the second minute of time added on Reds were undone by yet another corner – how many times this season. Sean Newton headed home to snatch a point for Ashton.
