The fragile nature of Workington’s current state of mind was fully exposed in this FA Trophy tie.

Not even after opening-up a 2-0 lead by half-time – with two sweetly struck goals – could they see it through and must start from scratch again tomorrow night.

It was a jittery, uncomfortable second half once the hosts had pulled one back and there was almost a feeling of inevitably that they would get a second.

The fact that it came four minutes from the end only added to the clear frustrations of the management team of Dave Hewson and Lee Andrews.

This was the second time in this so-far unnerving season that Reds have established a 2-0 lead away from home and been unable to hold it.

Although, at least on this occasion, they were all square at the end - unlike at Basford where the side lost 3-2.

That 2-0 lead at the break could have been even better but once again Reds failed from the penalty spot.

Jason Walker, who had shot wide at Mickleover a week beforehand, again took the spot-kick but this time the keeper, Matt Johnson went full length to parry.

Even then there was a chance for Walker to bundle in the rebound but again Johnson made a splendid block to deny the Reds striker.

That penalty miss on 28 minutes was sandwiched in between two class strikes for the Reds that had given them a handy interval lead.

Conor Tinnion notched the first.

He had been finding his range with two earlier efforts which hardly troubled Johnson .

Then, on 12 minutes, he produced one of his trademark strikes, curling a 25-yard left-foot shot beyond the diving home keeper.

The second on 42 minutes was very similar, but from slightly further out and flew home on the same trajectory giving Johnson no chance.

But this one came from the left boot of skipper Gari Rowntree.

He did well, surging forward into the Newcastle half to make an interception before stepping inside a challenge and then letting rip.

He doesn’t score many goals – every three years according to the highly competitive full-back – but this one was a bit special.

Rowntree, in fact, had been asked to play at right-back to nullify the threat of Newcastle’s star player, ex-Norwich City forward Rod Orlando-Young.

He handled him well, although the diminutive winger did have his moments as he roamed freely to operate on both flanks and down the middle.

Orlando-Young had his side’s best chance in the first-half when he got into the area and rather flicked at the ball, rather than putting his boot through it, and Aaran Taylor went full length to hold on.

It was Orlando-Young who had the first chance on the resumption but lifted a shot over the bar from a good position.

But the signs were there early in the second half as Newcastle changed tack and went long, allowing them to enjoy more pressure on the Workington goal.

When they scored on 62 minutes it was from a fluke, although some careless defending in the build-up hadn’t helped Reds.

Taylor Attrell made a late run from midfield and from wide-out sent over what seemed a cross but it deceived Taylor and ended up in the far corner of the net.

Reds did have another good chance when Johnson saved from Jordan Holt but generally the next goal seemed more likely at the other end.

It came on 86 minutes from an Orlando-Young corner and a bullet header from home skipper Matt Lowe which gave Taylor no chance.

Four minutes of added time couldn’t produce another goal and what should have been satisfaction at a job seen through to the end, turned into one of relief at having a second chance at home tomorrow night.

Match facts

Newcastle Town: Johnson, Bradbury (Shaw 84), Stubbs, Attrell, Lowe, Dennis, Conlon, Van der Laan (Glover 62), Smith, Ward, Orlando-Young. Subs (not used) Kapend, Fraser, Capey.

Goals: Attrell (62), Lowe (86)

Workington: Taylor, Mellen, Rowntree, Wordsworth, May, Cowperthwaite (Hubbold 79), Joel, Holt, Walker (Mossop 90), Allison Tinnion. Subs (not used) Smith, Calvert, Casson.

Goals: Tinnion (12), Rowntree (42)

Crowd: 143

Referee: Richard Walker

Star Man: Gari Rowntree