It remains goalless at half time as Workington Reds have not been able to break down the visiting Sutton Coldfield Town.

There was a slow start from the home side and they only really began to up the ante as the half drew to a close.

Gari Rowntree began his first game of the season, taking the captain's armband but Josh Calvert was missing through injury and James Earl suspended.

Sutton had the better of the early exchanges as they started brightly, causing problems at the back for Reds.

They were on the attack from the off, belying their position at the bottom of the league.

Brian Smikle upped the ante early on as he looked to time his cross to meet the run of Jak Barnes closing into the box but Sam Smith got in with a timely tackle to defuse the danger.

The Sutton captain Aaron Birch then hooked a ball into the path of Smikle but his shot went into the waiting arms of Reds keeper Aaran Taylor.

Reds tried to get the ball forward but were met with resolute defence from the visitors.

They got an opportunity when they were awarded a free kick around 35-yards out from the Sutton goalmouth.

David Symington powered it in but it quickly ricocheted back off a Sutton defender however it only came back to the boot of the former Carlisle player to give him as second chance.

But this time it was one of his own players that blocked the shot in a crowded goalmouth.

Both sides were looking to break the deadlock and it was the visitors who were looking more likely to score.

A free kick from Kris Taylor was lofted in to the box and Taylor had to leap up and punch it clear as the referee also blew up for an infringement.

Reds were being restricted to opportunities on the break and Conor Tinnion tried his luck with a shot off his left foot but it was saved comfortably by Nicholas Draper in the Sutton goal.

The best chance of the half fell to Sutton in the 29th minute when a good run and shot from Tyler Lyttle forced a good save from Taylor.

Symington tried to up the pace for Reds as he took on a defender down the touchline and got in a long cross, looking for Tinnion but he couldn't control the ball.

Tinnion was the next to show his pace down the right flank, he turned the defender and got off a shot that the keeper managed to parry.

Allison was quickly on to the loose ball and tried to play in Sam Joel but he just couldn't find the space.

Reds got another opportunity in the dying minutes of the half as Symington put in a free kick from close to the by-line.

It came out to Jordan Holt and the youngster let loose with a shot from 20-yards out that forced a good punched clearance from Draper and the half ended goalless.