Workington fell to their sixteenth defeat of their Premier Division campaign before Borough Park’s best attendance of the season.
Boosted by the large travelling support from Manchester, the crowd of 1,193 saw the visitors snatch a last-gasp victory with Matthew Grivosti netting a stoppage time winner.
And it was a tough one to take for manager Mark Fell who was pleased with Reds’ overall performance.
“I thought we played quite well in the first half and were good in the second but I said to the players at half time it will be a mistake or one piece of quality that will decide the game.
“Unfortunately, we have made the mistake and it has proved costly but, apart from the penalty, that is the only serious attempt on goal they’ve had.”
Half chances were squandered in the early stages by Connor Pani and Ceiran Casson and Kai Nugent was just off target with two fine efforts and also saw a shot saved by visiting ‘keeper, Conor O’Keefe.
And with both goalkeepers enjoying a relatively quiet afternoon, it looked as though a goalless draw would have been the most likely outcome.
But FC United were awarded a seventy-fifth minute penalty after Efe Ambrose’s trip on Declan McLoughlin. Paul Ennis stepped up to take the spot-kick but his firmly struck shot was kept out by Workington’s on loan ‘keeper, Jack Barrett.
When Reds gave away possession in midfield in stoppage time, the visitors took full advantage and Grivosti’s weak shot seemed to wrong-foot Barrett. He could only help the ball over the line and it was enough to secure FC United’s first ever win at Borough Park.
Fell had named the returning Aran Fitzpatrick in the starting XI and his presence gave a better balance to the back four. The left fullback was also nominated as the sponsors’ man-of-the-match
The setback adds more significance to next Saturday’s home game versus crisis club Blyth Spartans, a game Reds now need to win, with tougher fixtures still to come.
Reds dropped one place to 16th, four points clear of the last relegation spot, whilst FC United can now put to one side any lingering fears about relegation.
