Workington Reds go in at half time with a two-goal lead over visiting Newcastle Benfield in this FA Cup first round qualifying replay at Borough Park.

It was nearly all Reds in the opening 15 minutes as they rattled two early goals in but then the visitors began to get back into the game and a cracking encounter ensued.

Benfield tested the Reds defence early on but not only did they come out on top they also brought the ball away and created the chance for he home side to take the lead.

Tenacious work from the on-loan Max Brown as he harried the keeper saw the ball fumbled and it came out to Scott Allison who made no mistake from close range.

Brown then got his just rewards minutes later as he scored a spectacular goal to double Reds' lead. Brown turned on the edge of the box and volleyed it home into the top of the net to the cheers of the crowd.

The Carlisle United youngster was on-fire as he beat the defence on several occasions and got in some great crosses.

But the visitors began to settle into the game and had their own opportunities with a series of corners and then a header from Joe Robson going just wide.

A long ball then found Dennis Knight a fraction ahead of the Reds defence and as Aaran Taylor loomed in front of him he looked to lift it over the top of the advancing keeper but it also just went over the net.

Reds looked to try and regain their early ascendancy but the final ball was lacking and a penalty call for a handball was denied by the referee.

Newcastle attacked again through Dale Pearson and he got a great cross in for Knight but his final shot was wayward and Reds breathed another sigh of relief.

The ball ping-ponged around the penalty area as Reds were unlucky not to extend their lead but then Benfield broke away again.

They picked up a free kick around 25-yards out and Knight stepped up with a strong shot that had Taylor diving to palm it round the post. Then at the opposite end of the field a ferocious shot from Kieran Maguire just missed the target.

The game was going from end to end as Pearson had the opportunity to get his side back into the game as he bore down on Taylor and tried to chip the keeper who proved up to the task, leaping to collect.

And at half time it was Reds who still had the two-goal advantage.