Workington were good value for their point last night in their NPL Premier Division clash with leaders FC United of Manchester.
The 0-0 scoreline might not suggest it but this was an entertaining goalless contest which delighted the bulk of the 916 crowd.
Indeed there was a heart-stopping moment in stoppage time when it looked as though Steven Rigg had won it.
No corner was given after a low shot from the Reds striker found the side netting.
But Rigg, and then keeper Daniel Atherton, confirmed that the shot had been saved before finding the wrong side of the net or it would have sneaked home.
Minutes earlier Dav Symington had been inches away from finding the target when presented with an opportunity inside the area.
Symington, too, was only just off target with one of his free-kick specials over the defensive wall.
So it was Reds who finished really strongly after the first quarter of the game when the visitors came out of the traps meaning business.
They certainly looked like League leaders in that opening salvo when it was Reds keeper Alex Mitchell who had his busiest time of the game.
He made two fine saves to deny Jay Fitzmartin and Jordan Buckley while Rudy Misambo headed wide from a very good chance.
However, once manager Darren Edmondson had tweaked his defensive set-up to counter the FC United threat, the game was more even and Reds engineered their best chance of the half.
A quick break forward caught the visitors short at the back but from an angle Symington pulled his shot across Atherton and just beyond the far post.
Workington certainly grew into the game and their reward was a point, the first FC United have dropped apart from one defeat on their seven match record.
Following on from Saturday’s first win at Bamber Bridge to play the league leaders and get something was an important step forward.
Getting another performance, even without a second win, was vital and Reds did that comfortably.
Wherever you looked at the team in this one there was effort, commitment, desire – and above all organisation.
Edmondson said pride was his overwhelming reaction to the performance and on a night when Man of the Match had so many contenders, that was a fair assessment.
To hear all his views on the game you can listen below:
