Last updated 15:17, Sunday, 28 September 2008

Workington 0 Harrogate Town 0: For the second time this season Workington couldn’t find the killer punch to see-off high-flying Harrogate at Borough Park.

Back on August 12 a penalty miss and some inspired work by goalkeeper Jim Provett contributed to the first goal-less stalemate.

Saturday’s FA Cup clash was more down to missed opportunities by the Reds who should have had their ticket booked for the third qualifying round by half-time.

Instead they must contemplate a Tuesday night replay at Harrogate and all the problems that entails, against a side who so far haven’t lived up to their tag as one of the best teams in the league.

Although Reds didn’t produce a lot of free-flowing football in the first-half they dominated through a mixture of determination, endeavour and enthusiasm – all the qualities needed for an FA Cup clash against higher ranked opposition.

In that first half Adam Collin did not have a shot to save and the first time he seriously handled the ball was taking out of the air a difficult left wing cross aimed for the far post.

Harrogate rarely looked like making inroads against a Workington defence in which Lee Andrews and Kyle May were quite outstanding yet again. James Dean and Danny Holland came with big reputations but neither got a sniff until late in the game.

Workington, by contrast, had three good chances to go in at the break with a substantial lead and virtually kill-off the tie.

The first one on 26 minutes followed a flighted free-kick from Craig Johnston which saw Tony Hopper rise virtually unchallenged and his sharp downward header was spilled by Provett.

May, who had pushed forward for the free kick, was still among the action but when the ball spun to him he blazed his shot well over the bar from 12 yards.

Then later in the half, Reds had two good opportunities in the space of as many minutes.

Again Harrogate struggled with a high ball into the box. It fell invitingly at the feet of Gareth Arnison but his shot on the turn from six yards was straight at Provett on the line.

Then almost immediately Arnison turned provider when he flicked on Gari Rowntree’s long ball for substitute Dan Robinson to chase in the clear. He curled his shot round the advancing Provett but unfortunately it was just wide of the angle of post and bar.

More of the same, but with more accuracy, was required after the break and it started promisingly when Rowntree landed a left wing cross on the goal stanchion with Provett floundering.

But Harrogate, clearly responding to an ear-bashing from displeased manager Neil Aspin, looked better in the second period and had as much of the ball as Workington.

They went desperately close to taking the lead on 64 minutes when a Jamie Smith header in the box beat the diving Collin but was hammered clear at the foot of the post by Rowntree.

Johnston put a free kick from the left corner of the box over the bar while Anthony Wright hit a thundering drive just over as he cut in from the left, so Workington also had their moments.

In the three minutes of time added on both sides could have spared us Tuesday’s second chapter.

First Dean, given his one opportunity in the game, turned smartly in the box and fired in a low shot which saw Collin go down quickly to make a brilliant one-handed save before the ball was lashed clear.

Then in the final seconds of the game, substitute Phil McLuckie, who had made a lively contribution over the last 20 minutes, got on the end of an Anthony Wright. It as more of a flick than a full boot but it wrong footed Provett who could only palm it aside.

But before a Workington player could react in front of an open goal a Harrogate defender lashed it clear into the crowd.

Workington may regret those missed chances but if they can produce the same kind of battling performance that they showed against the Blue Square North’ form team they are still very much alive in this Cup-tie.

STAR MEN – Joint winners this week, couldn’t separate the outstanding pair of Lee Andrews and Kyle May - surely one of the best defensive partnerships in Blue Square North.

Reds: Collin, Hewson, Rowntree, May, Andrews, Vipond (McLuckie 70), Johnston, Hopper, J. Wright (Robinson 32), Arnison, A. Wright. Subs (not used) Kirkup, Hardman, Edmondson

Referee: W. D. Smallwood

Crowd: 413