Reds confident despite being held on opening day

Reds picked up a point at home to newly-promoted Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday after being held to a 1-1 draw.

The West Cumbrians were in control throughout the encounter but failed to convert their chances when on top.

Left-back Rowntree, 28, has inherited the captain’s armband after last season’s skipper Dan Wordsworth left to backpack across Australia and Asia.

Rowntree admits that he and his teammates were left to rue not picking up all three points in his first competitive game as the official Reds captain.

He said: “We were disappointed. We started really well and we felt like we were dominating the game.

“Obviously a slight misreading on the goal was a bit sloppy. If we had scored when we were on top we would have dominated the game.

“I thought we looked good. Some days they don’t come off, sometimes they do. Sometimes you need it to fall your way.

“It was only the first game and all the lads are feeling confident.”

And on being handed the captaincy, Rowntree added: “I was buzzing. Gavin [Skelton, former Reds manager] mentioned it but I didn’t know if Degsy [Derek Townsley] would carry it on.

“There are quite a few people with experience who try to be vocal on the pitch. I try to do it anyway. I will try to do it more now I am captain.”

Workington will travel to face Skelmersdale United tonight (7.45pm ko), the early season league leaders from the 2014/2015 campaign.

Skelmersdale led the Evo-Stik Premier Division for much of last season but then slipped away in the last few months.

They got their season off to a flyer on Saturday with an impressive 3-1 victory away at last season’s play-off finalists Ilkeston.

In August last year, Reds suffered a narrow 1-0 loss away at Skelmerdale, a game the West Cumbrians dominated.

Rowntree added: “It seems like a difficult game. We played them last year and we absolutely dominated the game. It was just one of those games.”