CONOR Tinnion’s wonder goal rescued Workington Reds as they survived a scare against Barwell on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten home league record.

The beginning of the game proved to be lively with both teams attacking and Reds had the first chance when Tinnion had a shot saved following a blocked effort from Joe McGee.

On six minutes, last weekend’s hat-trick hero Scott Allison was presented with a sitter when the ball fell to him six yards out but he fluffed his lines at the crucial moment.

Barwell proved they were no passengers as Brady Hickey went straight up the other end and had a shot saved by Alex Mitchell while Anthony Carney fired wide from outside the box soon after.

Goalkeeper Liam Castle was a nemesis for Reds as he thwarted them from set pieces and was also on hand to deny Allison who worked well with Tinnion on 19 minutes.

But it was Castle’s opposite number who was in the spotlight afterwards when Jamie Towers was brought down outside the box by Mitchell, who narrowly escaped a red card for his foul.

The Canaries kept trying to create chances, although Liam Kay fired wide when the ball fell to him from a corner and Jordan Wakeling had a soft header saved by Mitchell from another corner.

With the half-hour mark approaching, Declan Towers ruffled feathers with a cross from the left but Anthony Carney struggled to make clean contact with the ball.

Alex Tomkinson also caused the Reds a few problems and set up Hickey who tried to chip Mitchell from 25 yards but his effort went over.

Tomkinson tried to be the provider again when he took another corner, but Towers headed wide as the away side turned up the pressure with half-time approaching.

The game had lacked clear-cut chances, but the first 45 minutes was lively and had seen both teams playing attacking end-to-end football.

Barwell had the first opportunity of note in the second half when a Tomkinson free-kick was flicked over by Kay, but they didn’t have to wait much longer for a goal.

On 52 minutes a Hickey cross evaded an array of Red shirts and Towers scored a tap-in from a few yards out to put the visitors in front.

Reds boss Derek Townsley took immediate action by throwing on Matty Tymon for McGee and he had a penalty appeal waved away minutes after coming on.

But the home side responded with a goal of their own as the ball bounced to Tinnion 25 yards out and he struck a beauty to level the match with 59 minutes gone.

Openings were few and far between after that, although Jamie Towers had a tame strike saved by Mitchell and both sides kept pressing for an elusive winner.

Townsley took one last throw of the dice by bringing on Gareth Arnison for Alex Salmon and Arnison nearly scored with his first real touch when Castle tipped his effort wide.

Both sides kept pushing for a second goal and deep into stoppage time Anthony Wright was presented with a chance on the left-hand side but his shot missed the target by a mile.

With the clock ticking Barwell thought they’d stolen a dramatic victory when their substitute Dom Brennan lobbed Mitchell from distance.

But the linesman had spotted a foul on the far side and it was ruled out, meaning both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The result sees the Reds slip four places to 14th spot but Tinnion’s effort means their unbeaten record against

Barwell in league games remains intact.

Reds: Mitchell, Simpson, Rowntree (c), May, Calvert, Wright, McLuckie, Salmon (Arnison 76), Allison, McGee (Tymon 55), Tinnion. Subs not used: Smith, McCartney, Telfer.

Attendance: 463.