An angry Derek Townsley lamented his side’s sloppy start to today's match against Mickleover Sports as Workington Reds were forced to come from behind to rescue a point.

The Reds boss labelled the result as "two points dropped", despite finding themselves 2-0 down inside 13 minutes at Borough Park.

But Workington then dominated the rest of the match as goals from Matty Tymon and Sam Smith helped earn the West Cumbrians a share of the points.

Townsley said: “It’s certainly two points dropped. I’m disappointed. I’m angry purely because in the first 30 minutes we were awful.

“You can’t give teams a 2-0 start. Overall, it’s disappointing.”

Reds were controversially denied the chance to win the game from the spot five minutes from the end when energetic midfielder Phil McLuckie appeared to be tripped in the box.

However, referee Mark Brown judged that McLuckie had dived and sent him off for a second bookable offence.

Townsely added: “I feel sorry for Phil. We saw two similar situations for them in our box with lads throwing themselves to the ground and the referee waving away.

“You just ask for consistency. I am not trying to mask our performance in the first 30 minutes but we just ask for consistency from the man in the middle.

“There were good opportunities,” he continued. “We haven’t been clinical in front of goal. When you are creating good opportunities you have to put them away and finish teams off.”

Reds lost two players before the match. Striker Alex Salmon has joined Witton Albion while winger Adam Telfer is now with Cleator Moor Celtic, with both looking to get more playing opportunities.

Townsley is now on the lookout for at least one new striker.

“That’s a priority at the moment,” he said. “We are scouring about and looking at what we can bring in. We need to get someone in. Maybe one or even two.”

Mickleover, who won the First Division South title last season, took the lead in the fourth minute through Massiah McDonald.

Anthony Griffiths-Junior made it two from the penalty spot on 13 minutes, with Kyle May fortunate not to be sent off after bringing down McDonald when he was about to pull the trigger.

But Tymon gave Workington hope on 34 minutes with a neat finish and centre back Smith, of Seaton, scored his first goal for Reds from close range on 73 minutes to make it 2-2.

The result lifts Workington up to ninth in the Evo-Stik Premier Division on 17 points, five points off the fifth and final play-off spot.

Reds are back at Borough Park on Tuesday night when they host Whitby in the league (7.45pm ko).