Coalville Town 2 Workington Reds 1

Newcomers Coalville Town completed a league double over Workington to put a dent in the Reds’ play-off prospects.

They are still in a cluster of clubs chasing a top-five spot but the margin for error is decreasing all the time and will continue to do so with performances like this.

The biggest disappointment was that this performance came on the back of an outstanding effort which saw them beat promotion rivals Stourbridge a week earlier.

There was just no comparison between the way Reds played last Saturday and this one, when they took far too long to show any form of positive attitude.

Workington were flat from the start and, somehow, it was no surprise when they conceded the first goal.

The fact Coalville played with 10 men from the 40th minute did mean Reds had more possession and territory for the rest of the game.

But the hosts handled the handicap well and, although generally prepared to sit back and soak up the pressure, they did prove dangerous on the break.

A piece of good luck enabled the hosts to double their lead and, when Reds did manage to pull one back, courtesy of an own goal, it was far too late to effect the outcome.

Reds didn’t manage to create enough opportunities against the 10 men who were able to follow-up a good 5-2 win at Rushall in midweek with a second successive win.

It had been a scrappy start with little or no football played and, from the first corner on 18 minutes, Coalville took the lead.

The ball travelled a fair way to find the unmarked Nat Watson a few yards from goal and his stooping header found the back of the net.

Twice more after that, Reds had looked uncomfortable at corners but they survived and had their best moments in the last ten minutes of the half.

There was nothing serious to test keeper Matthew Coton but at least Reds were playing some passing football and getting the ball into the box.

Then on 40 minutes, referee Greg Rollason, who had given Reds very little to that point, produced a straight red card against goalscorer Watson when he caught Jake Simpson in the face with a flailing elbow.

That allowed Workington to get on the front foot in the second half and the tempo was lifted.

But Coalville still managed to look dangerous on the break. Twice Aaran Taylor had to produce excellent stops to deny Massiah McDonald and substitute Malachi Lavelle-Moore.

But it was another substitute, Alex Dean, who doubled the home lead a couple of minutes after joining the action.

He got an opportunity to swing a boot at a ball in the box and his shot was deflected past the stranded Taylor.

Reds had 16 minutes and five minutes of time added on to save a point.

Josh Calvert headed just over, Sam Joel headed straight at Coton and Dave Symington hit the foot of the post as the momentum grew.

But it was into the third minute of the five extra at the end of the game before they made a breakthrough.

A long clearance from Sam Smith was headed into the area by Scott Allison, and home defender Danny Jenno, with a diving header, put the ball past Coton.

Coalville: Coton, Bryant, Torr, Jenno, Freeman, Brown, Marshall (Dean 71), Towers, McDonald (Lavelle-Moore 62), Watson, McMillan (Coleman 73). Subs (not used) Foster, Bowles.

Workington: Taylor, Simpson, Rowntree, May (Waterston 76), Smith, Calvert, Allison, Tinnion, Ryan (Wilson 45), Joel, Symington. Subs (not used) Douglas, Cham, Fowler.

Referee: Greg Rollason

Crowd: 191

Star Man: Sam Smith