Workington Reds 1, Grantham Town 0

Workington Reds got back on track in the Evo Stik Northern Premier with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Grantham Town.

Reds had to grind out the win in windy conditions at Borough Park and it was a penalty that eventually decided the game.

But, despite the weather, Reds played some good passing football and looked as though they were starting to hit form.

Joe McGee was ferocious in attack, showing glimpses of his form from last season.

Josh Calvert missed out through a hamstring problem but, in his absence, Matty Douglas stepped up in defence while the midfield won some tough battles to keep the attack flowing.

In the opening minutes Reds had to adapt to the weather as Jake Simpson's free kick was taken out of play by the wind.

The ball found Scott Allison and he took on the defence in the penalty area but was closed down and Reds were forced wide.

A Dave Symington shot went wide of the target but Reds were showing they meant business with the majority of possession and chances.

A free kick from the left boot of Conor Tinnion was curled in. It took a deflection off a Grantham defender but went into the arms of the keeper Jake Turner.

Then came the break through as James Earl was clipped in the penalty area and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

Symington stepped up and coolly blasted the shot past the diving keeper to put his side 1-0 up.

Reds kept hunting and Allison had a great chance as his shot was just tipped over the bar with the keeper at full stretch.

Phil McLuckie won the ball back for Reds and an early ball found Tinnion in the clear but he just couldn't keep it in play and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Grantham had one of their best chances as Grant Ryan's shot just went wide of the target.

They had several chances in one of their better spells but the Reds defence held out.

Tinnion shot with power from outside the box but his effort was over the bar.

Jake Simpson put in a quick cross which found Joe McGee near the far post and his header looked to be goalbound but the keeper just got his fingertips to the ball to tip it over the crossbar.

Then Simpson had a go himself from wide out and it looked to be dipping towards goal but it just missed the target and Reds went in at the break 1-0 ahead.

It was a more even start in the opening minutes of the second half with both sides attacking well.

McGee drove a shot hard at goal but it went straight into the arms of the keeper

Reds were passing the ball about well but it was unfortunate that McGee's final ball just went in the wrong direction.

A long ball found the head of Grantham's Ryan with the defence beaten but luckily for Reds it went wide.

McGee was in the thick of the action again when he controlled the ball in the box and tried to get it into the path of Allison but he couldn't get a shot away.

Tinnion was brought down just outside the area and Reds got a free kick but Simpson's effort just found the arms of the keeper.

Reds had Aaran Taylor to thank for keeping them in the game on 75 minutes.

Ryan struck a superb volley which looked goalbound all the way but somehow Taylor twisted and leaped to get a hand on the ball to tip it onto the bar.

Shaw followed that up with a shot of his own but this went wide with Taylor diving at full stretch to cover his goal.

Reds went back on the attack and a great ball from McGee found Allison but he couldn't control it and the ball ran on to the keeper.

Good work by sub Nathan Waterston kept the ball in at the by-line and got the cross across goal but McGee just couldn't get on to the end of it.

Simpson was then fouled on the edge of the area. Tinnion curled it in but the keeper took it comfortably.

Into the last minute and Grantham, on the break, shot from distance but Taylor again kept alert and managed to block it.

The last couple of minutes saw Grantham's frustration emerge. Waterston was brought down by Ryan and he received a yellow card for his troubles.

And into extra time Harry Clifton, on loan to Grantham from Grimsby, also saw yellow for a challenge on McLuckie.

But it was Reds who held out for the slender victory and all important points in their league campaign.

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Smith, May, Douglas, Earl, Symington (Waterston 69), McLuckie, Allison (Wilson 85), McGee, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Hebson, Jolly, Fowler.

Goals: Symington (24pen).

Grantham: Turner, Wildin, Storey, Carr, Galinski, Meadows, Clifton, Lewis (Beckett 70), Durkin (Burrows 62), Ryan, Shaw. Subs (not used): Hollingsworth, Rork.

Yellow cards: Ryan (90), Clifton(92).

Referee: M Barlow.

Half time: 1-0.

Crowd: 419.