The old cliché of a football match being a game of two halves certainly applied to Workington’s 1-0 loss at home to Harrogate Town in the FA Cup today.

Undeterred by their opponent’s high-flying start to life in the National League North, the division above Workington, Reds players started the match on the front foot.

But, like in all football games, you have to score when you are on top and Workington couldn’t find a breakthrough against the resilient Yorkshire outfit.

Then, in the second half, Harrogate finally woke up and dominated proceedings.

Reds stood strong and a Tuesday night replay beckoned, which would have been a fair outcome, until the lively Brendan Daniels ambitiously tried his luck with a 30-yard free-kick.

It looked a soft goal to concede but the gamble to shoot from such a distance paid off for Daniels.

It’s the second year running Workington have been dumped out of the FA Cup at the second qualifying stage.

The dream of replicating Blyth Spartans’ cup run from last season will have to wait until next year at least.

Before kick-off, there was a minute's applause for former Workington Reds full-back Joe Wilson who died recently at the age of 78.

Workington started the game unfazed by Harrogate’s National League North status as they set out to harry and attack their Yorkshire opponents from the off.

On 10 minutes, Conor Tinnion produced a neat touch to play Joe McGee in down the right wing, he looked to pick out striker Matty Tymon but the Harrogate defenders managed to bundle it behind for a corner.

Almost immediately Harrogate broke down the other end through Dominic Knowles. However, centre-back Sam Smith stuck to the attacker and blocked it behind for a corner.

Tinnion was again in the thick of the action when Reds looked to break away. The tricky winger flicked the ball into Phil McLuckie’s path but a great last-ditch tackle from Luke Shiels sent the ball away for a corner on 25 minutes.

From the corner, McGee leapt highest but could only glance his header wide of the far post.

But Harrogate were looking dangerous on the rare occasions they were able to test Workington’s defence.

A Daniels free-kick from the right wing was headed onto the post from giant centre-back Danny Ellis, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.

Jake Simpson then burst down the right wing for Reds and his cross found Tymon, however the striker’s header was comfortably saved by Peter Crook in Harrogate’s goal.

An even first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate with chances at a premium for both sides.

Harrogate should have taken the lead three minutes into the second half when Reds goalkeeper Jonny Jamieson was caught in no man’s land trying to get to the ball before the Harrogate attacker. A couple of Reds defenders managed to hold the attacker up while Jamieson scrambled back and when the ball found Daniels in the box, he opted to dive when under pressure rather than take a shot.

The referee, to the delight of the Borough Park faithful, produced a yellow card for Daniels.

Harrogate’s bright start to the second half was almost rewarded just before the hour mark when Joe Colbeck whipped his free-kick from the right wing onto the crossbar, leaving Jamieson stranded.

Harrogate then had a succession of corners but Workington remained resolute in defence.

The Yorkshire side had a terrific opportunity to break the deadlock on 73 minutes when Knowles burst clear. He played the ball out wide to Jack Emmett in space and his goal-bound shot was deflected into Jamieson’s hands.

In a rare second-half attack for Reds on 79 minutes, Scott Allison played in a dangerous cross and Crook just tipped the ball clear with substitute Gareth Arnison poised to head the ball in.

Crook almost became a villain for Harrogate just a minute later when he failed to gather a Simpson corner but McGee couldn’t steer it into the net.

However, on 83 minutes, Harrogate took the lead.

The lively Daniels fired an ambitious low free-kick towards goal from 30 yards out and Jamieson couldn’t get there as an awkward bounce took it away from him.

It was a moment of brilliance from the standout player on the pitch to break the deadlock in a tight encounter, although Jamieson will feel like he might have done better to deal with the effort.

Workington continued to press for an equaliser but found a stubborn Harrogate defence barring the way as the West Cumbrians crashed out of the FA Cup.

MATCH FACTS

REDS: Jamieson, Simpson, Rowntree (C), Smith, Wright (Earl, 69), Allison, McLuckie, Tymon (Arnison, 61), McGee, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Calvert, Telfer, McCartney.

HARROGATE TOWN: Crook, Turner, McWilliams, Fallowfield (Clayton, 61), Shiels, Ellis (C), Colbeck (Nyoni, 61), Kerry (Bloomer, 72), Knowles, Daniels, Emmett. Subs (not used): Thewliss, Swain, Gascoigne, Thirwell.

GOALS: Daniels (83 mins).

CARDS: Yellow – Daniels.

REFEREE: P Newhouse.

ATTENDANCE: 599.

STAR MAN: Sam Smith – The Seaton defender slotted into defence seamlessly in place of the injured Josh Calvert.