Workington Reds 2-0 Lancaster City

The kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes due to the Dolly Blues’ team bus breaking down on the way to Borough Park, and once things got underway both teams struggled to find any rhythm.

Workington had the first real chance when Steven Rigg turned and shot inside the penalty area but his effort was deflected wide and went for a corner.

Josh Calvert then headed the ball back across goal following a Dave Symington cross but City dealt with the danger well and cleared.

Dan Wordsworth glanced a header wide soon after as Workington continued to create the early chances, but City gradually grew into the game.

Skipper Craig Carney had the Blues’ first chance when his shot was blocked by Gari Rowntree and goalkeeper Aaran Taylor was forced into a save from a Steve Williams corner, tipping the ball over the bar.

A Simon Wills shot went wide of the goal in City’s last real chance of the first half as both teams went into the half time break goalless.

Rowntree had the first real chance of the second half on the hour mark but his shot from just outside the penalty area rolled wide of the target.City substitute Tom Kilifin then came close to opening the scoring but his effort went wide, much to the relief of the diving Taylor in the Workington goal.

The deadlock was finally broken after 69 minutes when a powerful Matty Douglas header beat Elliot Wynne in the Dolly Blues’ goal.

City had a spell of pressure and went close after a scramble in the penalty area and Connor Simpson had an effort deflected wide.

There was then a melee in the Workington penalty area as Ryan Winder whipped in a free-kick and a shot was superbly blocked by Taylor in the Workington goal, keeping his side ahead.

The home side secured all three points in the 89th minute though when Symington put a cross into the area, it fell to former City man Rob Wilson on the edge of the box and he fired the ball home to kill any hopes of a City 
comeback.

Lancaster City: Wynne, Hudson, Dugdale (Jarvis 73), Anson, Steel, Mercer, Carney, Wills, Simpson, Williams (Kilifin 61), Winder. Subs: Akrigg, C Bailey, S Bailey.