ANDY Langford, a blast from Workington’s past, prevented the Reds from securing FA Trophy progress at the first time of asking.

‘Langy’, who spent four years at Borough Park, produced a stunning header to peg back the Cumbrians 10 minutes after they had taken the lead with a good goal themselves.

Reds boss Danny Grainger admits his defence is short of six feet plus defenders, an asset at corners and set-pieces, but Langford isn’t the biggest and his goal was down to timing, power and accuracy.

From a left-wing corner on 58 minutes, Langford rose highest beyond the far post and bulleted his header into the net for a picture goal.

Reds had taken the lead 10 minutes earlier with an equally good goal, of a different type.

Liam Brockbank raided down the left and found his skipper Conor Tinnion ahead of him. He headed for the byline and pulled back an inviting cross which saw Ash Kelly stretching well to steer the ball into the net.

It was Kelly’s third goal in a week from three matches and, gaining confidence from each outing, it’s easy to see why Grainger is becoming a big fan.

Reds had started the game very much on the front foot and in the opening exchanges it did look as though they were capable of steam-rolling nervous opposition.

Kelly (twice) and Tinnion (once) had shots inside the area blocked by defenders and finally keeper Chris Thompson, after Matty Clarke had got in behind and produced a fine cross.

Clarke, who enjoyed his best game for the Reds, caused problems on the other flank and Thompson just managed to scramble the ball behind as Charlie Bowman moved in for the kill.

Unable to make the breakthrough, Reds became more laboured in their build up and Droylsden seemed to collect themselves and gain more of a foothold in the game.

They had chances, too. Gari Rowntree was caught in possession by Rhys Clooney who went on to snatch wildly at his shot and was well off target.

Then Cieran Casson was also dispossessed and the ball fed through to home skipper Domaine Rouse who was clear. He shot low to Jim Atkinson’s right and the keeper went down well to turn the ball behind for a fruitless corner.

After the second-half goals the play was more open and end-to-end with both sides going close to scoring from distance moves.

Droylsden were first, breaking from the edge of their penalty area to the same spot at the Workington end where Danny Wilkins’ shot was comfortably held by Atkinson.

Reds responded with another strong break from Brockbank down the left. He played the ball in to Scott Allison on the edge of the box who simply laid it into the path of Casson and his first time shot was narrowly over the angle of post and bar.

Gari Rowntree wasn’t too far away with a header from a Tinnion free-kick before he had to limp out of the action with a hamstring problem.

Match Facts

Droylsden: Thompson, Caddick (Bianga 77), Rigby, Rooney, Neville, Langford, Hickman, Wilkins, Rouse, Clooney (Burns 78), Murray (Frost 61). Unused subs: Silva, West, Sterpes, Clarke.

Goal: Langford (58)

Workington: Atkinson, Clarke, Brockbank, Wordsworth, Rowntree (Grainger 89), Casson, Kelly (Hebson 74), Hubbold (Ivison 61), Bowman, Allison, Tinnion. Subs (not used) Atkinson, Mitchell.

Goal: Kelly (48)

Referee: Faral Hallam

Crowd: 199

Star Man: Conor Tinnion