By John Walsh

Last updated at 14:27, Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Nuneaton 1 Workington Reds 0: Workington Reds' pursuit of FA Cup glory is over for another year.

Three meetings so far and still the Reds are waiting to record their first victory over Nuneaton who again demonstrated last night what a well-organised and efficient team they are.

After two successive promotions the re-formed Town look capable of mounting a strong challenge for the hat-trick and with resources to match their ambition will surely be up there among the contenders in six months time.

It was a disappointing end to the cup run for he west Cumbrians but manager Darren Edmondson conceded that the best team had won on the night.

“I couldn’t fault my players for the effort and commitment they put in but we couldn’t create enough opportunities to trouble them.

“We knew where they would be dangerous, from set pieces, and that proved to be our undoing but they are a good team, with a decent squad and a bigger budget than ourselves.

“I have a great group of players who will take this on the chin and get over the disappointment by going out for the right result at Droylsden on Saturday,” said Edmondson.

Both teams had good spells in the first-half but Nuneaton had the better opportunities and were closer to breaking the deadlock.

Brave blocks from Lee Andrews and Kyle May stopped shots which were on target and Aaran Taylor made two superb saves to deny the dangerous Eddie Nisevic in quick succession.

The first was a thunderbolt from the impressive wing-back which he tipped onto the bar and the second was from the rebound when he smothered the ball at Nisevic’s feet.

Taylor also made a timely block when Lee Moore fired one in from close range while Chris Dillon and Justin Marsden shot over from good positions.

Workington had some tidy spells of possession but were unable to fashion a clear-cut opportunity, although they were close to a penalty award early in the game.

Conor Tinnion, who was one of Reds’ liveliest performers cut through before being brought down.

He fell a good three yards in the area but referee Ian Rathbone ruled the foul had been committed outside.

Gareth Arnison took the subsequent free-kick right on the line but his curled effort over the wall was easily taken by keeper Danny Alcock, who didn’t have a lot else to do in the first-half.

The second-half opened disastrously for Reds.

Nuneaton came out of the blocks firing and forced two quick corners. From the second big defender Gareth Dean was allowed to get in ahead of Taylor and head firmly into the net.

To their credit Workington responded well and with more possession than their hosts, as they worked busily all over the park, they had the territory to fashion a revival.

But they just couldn’t find the right final ball to create the scoring chances and once again Nuneaton’s disciplined and well-organised defenders were the masters.

Andy Langford, who saw a screamer strike the bar at Borough Park, had another try from distance but this time Alcock held-on well while late-on Shaun Vipond skied a shot over the top from the edge of the area.

But there was an air of inevitability about it all on this occasion as Workington seemed to lack the guile to open-up the opposition and the cutting edge to finish them.

Nuneaton confidently saw-out time to confirm their date with Lincoln on November 6.

Later next month Reds will have the opportunity to tackle a more viable Wembley target, the FA Trophy, an adventure which carried them to the quarter finals last year.

By the time Workington make their bow in the competition they should have a full compliment to pick from, something which was denied Edmondson for the two Nuneaton ties.

Reds: Taylor, Langford, Rowntree, May, Andrews, Vipond, Tinnion (Tymon 65), Hindmarch, Bowman (J. Wright 82), Arnison, A. Wright. Subs (not used) White, Blake, Main.

Referee: Ian Rathbone, Northampton

Crowd: 940

STAR MAN: Aaron Taylor – The Workington Reds keeper added to his growing reputation with another near faultless display and certainly one of the brightest prospects in the Workington ranks.

First published at 11:35, Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk