For 70 minutes Workington dominated today's home clash against Mickleover Sports, but a horrid opening 13 minutes denied them three points.

Reds and the 460 people inside Borough Park were left stunned when Mickleover, last season’s First Division South champions, cruised into a 2-0 lead in the opening stages.

A Massiah McDonald tap-in and Anthony Griffiths-Junior penalty was fully deserved for the Derby-based side after a bright opening.

But from then on Workington dominated proceedings, although they were fortunate to still have 11 men on the pitch with the referee not punishing Kyle May for bringing down McDonald for the penalty.

Striker Matty Tymon pulled one back on 34 minutes and defender Sam Smith completed the comeback on 73 minutes.

There was controversy five minutes from the end when Phil McLuckie was sent tumbling in the box.

But referee Mark Brown made a decision which probably made him the most unpopular man in Workington on Saturday.

He showed McLuckie a second yellow card and Reds were down to 10 men rather than having a chance from the spot to deservedly claim all three points.

However, after the disastrous start to the match, Workington won’t be too displeased with a point.

In the opening stages it was obvious to see why Mickleover Sports won the First Division South title at a canter last season. The Derby-based side were playing neat and tidy football, bypassing Workington’s midfield with two-touch passing.

However, it was Workington who could so easily have taken the lead in just the third minute. Scott Allison whipped in a deep cross from the right wing and Tymon rose highest above his marker but his header went just wide of the far post.

Mickleover’s lively start to the match was rewarded just a minute later when winger Andy Dales all too easily broke through on goal. He unselfishly opted to play the ball across the box and McDonald had an easy tap-in at the back post.

Workington’s stuttering start got even worse on 12 minutes when McDonald broke into the box and May brought him down with a desperate lunge.

Griffiths-Junior stepped up and cooly slotted the ball straight down the middle of the goal to leave Workington Reds and the Borough Park faithful stunned.

Reds responded well after going two down, keeping possession and patiently looking to craft an opening.

On 22 minutes, Anthony Wright burst into the box, played it low across the goal but Allison swung at thin air at the vital moment.

A 10-minute spell of possession and pressure from Reds was rewarded on 34 minutes. Conor Tinnion’s poor free-kick was headed clear but skipper Gari Rowntree lobbed the ball back into box and Tymon beat the offside trap to slot the ball low past Ross Atkins in Mickleover’s goal.

Reds twice came close to equalising before half-time. Tymon first had a curling snap shot from the edge of the box parried by Atkins.

Then, Tinnion was found in space inside the box but his shot cannoned back off the post as the majority of the spectators inside Borough Park were off their seats thinking it had nestled in the net.

Workington started on the front foot in the second half and almost drew level through Tymon. McLuckie played a beautiful ball down the wing to Allison, he played it inside to Tymon but the big striker couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

On 65 minutes, Wright dinked a neat pass to Allison and the red haired winger’s thunderous shot flew wide of the far post.

Minutes later Tymon found himself through on goal after a long clearance, he lifted the ball over the onrushing Atkins but cleared the crossbar with his lobbed effort.

Allison then came close with a curling effort from the edge of box which Atkins did well to parry behind.

From the subsequent corner, Workington’s pressure paid off. Tinnion crossed the ball after his initial corner-kick came back to him, Kyle May’s header hit the post and fellow centre back Smith fired the ball into the net from close range for his first senior goal on 73 minutes.

However, Workington were forced to play the last five minutes of the game with 10 men after McLuckie was shown a second yellow card for what the referee deemed as a dive in the box.

The home crowd was furious and perhaps rightly so as it looked like a stonewall penalty.

Workington continued to battle but time ultimately ran out as they pressed for a winning goal.

Match facts:

REDS: Jamieson, Simpson, Rowntree (C), May, Smith, Wright, Allison (Earl, 83), McLuckie, Tymon, McGee (Murray, 84), Tinnion. Subs (not used): Calvert, McCartney, Mitchell.

GOALS: Tymon (34 mins), Smith (73 mins).

CARDS: Yellow – McLuckie (2), Tymon. Red – McLuckie.

MICKLEOVER SPORTS: Atkins, Bennett, Spencer, Broadhead, Wiley, Degirolamo (C), Dales, Griffiths-Junior (Oshoboke, 45), McDonald, Dawes (Ricketts, 78). Subs (not used): O’Neil-Dwyer, Buxton, Turner.

GOALS: McDonald (4 mins), Griffiths-Junior (13 mins).

CARDS: Yellow – McGrath.

REFEREE: Mark Brown.

ATTENDANCE: 460.

STAR MAN: Sam Smith – Rock solid in defence again and completed the comeback with his first goal for Reds.