Corby Town were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against 10-man Workington in the Blue Square Bet North.

The Steelmen took an early lead but were pegged back after the break as the home side belied their lowly league position with a battling performance.

Corby almost gifted Workington the lead on seven minutes when Chris Mackenzie was beaten to a through-ball by Jonny Wright. But the Reds striker’s shot was cleared off the line by Phil Gulliver.

The Steelmen then showed their hosts how it should be done two minutes later as Matt Rhead’s header from Paul Mayo’s long throw came back off the bar and Paul Malone crashed home the rebound from close-in.

Wright nearly embarrassed Mackenzie again on 17 minutes when he charged down a clearance but the danger was quickly cleared. Mackenzie was in action again on 29 minutes with a fine save from Tom Smyth’s header. And the Reds full-back was denied again by Mackenzie with a low shot soon after.

Corby saw less of the ball as the half wore on but Andy Burgess should have doubled their lead on 36 minutes from Nick Rogan’s cross, but his shot was saved by Reds keeper Aaran Taylor.

And the Steelmen were close again 60 seconds later when James Ozmen’s fizzing low shot beat Taylor but came back off the post.

Corby were made to rue those missed opportunities six minutes after half-time when Lee Andrews headed Workington level from a corner.

The hosts were good value for the equaliser and Gareth Arnison went to giving them the lead when he headed wide from Kevin Gall’s cross just past the hour.

Play was then held up while a streaker made a brief entrance and Corby then felt they should have had a penalty when Jordan Spruce was fouled by Smyth but the referee waved away the appeals.

Things turned nasty on 70 minutes when Jonny Wright was sent off for a late lunge on Ozmen.

Rhead had the ball in the net soon after, but was flagged offside.

And Paul Mayo nearly scored a freakish goal on 77 minutes when his cross looped goalwards and had to be tipped over by Taylor.

At the other end, Kevin Gall was close for the hosts when his shot was turned on to the post by Mackenzie.

At the death, substitute Jordan Smith almost snatched it for Corby but Taylor saved his shot and it ended all-square.

Workington: Taylor; Smyth (sub Simpson, 79 mins), Wordsworth, Andrews, A Wright; McLuckie, Boyd (sub Main, 79 mins), Hewson; Gall, J Wright, Arnison (sub Green, 85 mins). Subs not used: McNiven, Sloan..

Corby: Mackenzie; Gordon, Gulliver, Malone, Mayo; Hall (sub Smith, 80 mins), Towers, Ozmen (sub Hibbert, 78 mins), Burgess (sub Spruce, 60 mins); Rhead, Rogan. Subs not used: Land, Ives.

Referee: Scott Oldham

Goals: Malone (0-1, 9 mins), Andrews (1-1, 51 mins).

Attendance: 372

Report By John Smith - Corby Evening Telegraph 
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