Workington slipped to their first defeat of the season at Skelmersdale’s Stormy Corner – but were denied at least a point by a superb performance from home goalkeeper Martin Fearon.

The Skem keeper was named man of the match by the home sponsors after a string of fine saves to deny Joe McGee twice, Matty Tymon and Phil McLuckie.

Reds retained the same starting line-up from Saturday and the only change was on the bench where Alex Salmon replaced Adam Telfer.

Dave Hewson, one of Derek’s Townsley’s assistants was in charge alongside Lee Andrews as the manager had work commitments

Skem, on the back of a good 3-1 win at Ilkeston on the opening day, started confidently and won the first corner which was easily cleared.

Reds first serious attack on six minutes ended with a free kick just outside the box after Matty Tymon was brought down Joe McGee hit a superb shot over the wall and Martin Fearon did well to turn it acrobatically over the bar. The corner was eventually scrambled clear.

On 12 minutes Skelmersdale had their best effort, a shot on the run from Anthony Hickey which rose just over the bar. But they should have gone ahead a minute later when Gerard Kinsella found Danny Mitchley unmarked in the area.

But as Kyle May and Sam Smith closed he lifted the ball over Alex Mitchell and also over the bar.

When Conor Tinnion was fouled Jake Simpson put in a great curling free-kick which invited a final touch but no-one w former Kendl strikeas on the end of it.

The game was end-to-end and when Skem broke May did well to hold-up Mitchley although the striker did get his shot away and Mitchell did well to block with his legs.

McGee was put in two dangerous positions out wide but as he hared for goal he was brought back for offside on both occasions.

Skem were awarded a free kick out on the right and Louis Corrigan’s curling left foot shot was turned round the post by the diving Mitchell.

Smith was in trouble on 32 minutes with a wild challenge on Kinsella and was shown a yellow card. In response Workington got the ball forward quickly and Tymon hit a first time shot wide of the target.

Nobody could really argue with the half-time score with defences on top, and each keeper making one excellent save.

Workington looked lively at the start of the second-half and McGee worked well with Tinnion down the left before unleashing a fierce shot into the side-netting.

Then Fearon had to race from goal to head clear as Scott Allison raced through but immediately Skelmersdale took the lead in the 53rd minute.

They won a corner which was misjudged by Mitchell and in the scramble that followed Tony Rendell scored.

Workington came back strongly and when Simpson put in a good cross Robert McIntosh headed away almost on the line.

Then on 61 minutes Workington were denied by Fearon. He produced a superb save to deny Tymon who got on the end of an Allison cross, The header was down and bouncing into the net when Fearon got a hand to it and then punched away at the second attempt.

Shaun Holden was booked for a foul on Allison as he broke clear but he free-kick was poor. Tinnion was also booked for dissent.

Although Reds were dominant Skem also broke to score a second. Substitute Dean Astbury had a shot on target deflected behind by Simpson.

But on 73 minutes Workington were undone again. A cross from the left went across to Hickey and he set-up Mitchley who scored with a fierce shot from the edge of the area.

Right away Reds had another goal-bound effort turned over by the excellent Fearon, this one from McGee.

Then it was Fearon again to Skem’s rescue with a great block when Phil McLuckie was put clear. A mistake by Anthony Wright ended with Astbury being put through on goal and Mitchell did well to tackle and clear.

The fact that keeper Fearon was named Skelmersdale’s man of the match by the home sponsors rather underlined how Reds had been denied.

Reds: Mitchell, Simpson, Rowntree, May, Smith, McLuckie, Allison (Arnison 78), Wright, Tymon, McGee, Tinnion. Subs: Not used - Calvert, Earl, McCartney, Salmon.

Skelmersdale: Fearon, Mooney, Holden, McIntosh, Rendell, Burton (Strickland 75), Hickey, Woolcott, Mitchley, Kinsella (Astbury 64), Corrigan. Subs: Not used -Hardwick, Donaldson, Staunton-Turner.

Referee: Nick Greenhalgh.

Crowd: 217.