WORKINGTON FC 1, ASHTON UNITED 1
Substitute Luca Navarro rescued a point for Ashton United on their visit to Cumbria against Workington FC who started the game bottom of Pitching In Northern Premier League, Premier.
The visitors were without the injured Callum Rowe and handed a first start to Brad Taylor while the hosts are still at Borough Park for at least one more season which has not been a happy hunting ground for the Robins recently with the last two visits resulting in a 10-1 aggregate scoreline.
The first chance fell to the Reds as Steve Rigg’s pullback to the edge of the area was helped well wide by Dav Symington and Ashton’s first attack ended with Alex Byrne chipping on to the roof of the net with a home player down injured and Charlie Barnes booked for protesting.
The slow momentum to the game continued as Luke Ellis’s cross to the far post saw Josh Doherty’s clearing header volleyed well over by Charlie Barnes.
Three minutes before the break, Byrne won a corner which when cleared saw Willem Tomlinson bring a good low save out of Alex Mitchell with Osei knocking home the rebound from an offside position.
Just as the half was petering out an up and under from Josh Galloway saw Kai Nugent win a corner which saw Jack Dickinson missing the delivery at the far post with a penalty being awarded, apparently for a clash with Sam Baird. Rigg’s kick was saved by the foot of keeper Jordan Eastham only for the referee to award a retake which saw the centre forward convert confidently.
Baird was straight in the action after the restart as he fired Osei’s lay off straight at Mitchell and Louis White’s header back from Luke Burke’s cross saw Taylor’s shot blocked before Tomlinson volleyed the bouncing ball wide.
Taylor could then possibly have done better at the far post as he volleyed White’s cross over. Just past the hour mark a good run by Ellis saw him go down under challenge with no penalty awarded.
But with 20 minutes left, Burke’s ball into the area was turned back by substitute Mikey O’Neill for Navarro to guide a neat finish into the far corner.
With both teams searching for the winner, Sharif Deans got the better of Newton bringing a good save out of Eastham with his feet before White found space near the by line and tested Mitchell from a narrow angle.
White could have grabbed the spoils as his deflected free kick was held by Mitchell after Rigg had been penalised for a clash with Tomlinson.
Ashton United: Eastham, Burke, Doherty, Newton, White, Baird, Byrne (O’Neill 58), Tomlinson, Taylor (Denton 66), Osei, Efunnuga (Navarro 58). Subs (unused): Gilchrist, Rutherford.
Attendance: 722.
Report: David Robinson.