Workington Reds hold a slender 1-0 lead at half time in their FA Trophy preliminary round replay against Droylsden.

Scott Allison gave Reds the advantage when he diverted Dav Symington's low cross past visiting goalkeeper Chris Thompson in front of 401 supporters at a chilly Borough Park.

They were fortunate to retain their lead perhaps when Danny Wilkins fluffed his yards when it was harder to miss after Rhys Clooney pulled the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box from out wide, but they also had chances to make the scoreline more comfortable with Conor Tinnion looking lively as he drove forwards to link up with Symington, Allison and Ash Kelly.

Reds had enjoyed plenty of possession and chances but were unable to find the elusive goal until the 30th minute when Allison scored his 101st goal for Workington when he stabbed the ball into the Droylsden goal before the keeper could even move.

The poacher almost played a pivotal role in another Reds goal in the four minutes later when he brought down manager Danny Grainger’s ball forward from the back under pressure and laid it off for Symington to unleash a rocket of a strike which Thompson struggled to contain.

Thompson got himself into trouble with the ball at his feet seconds later and was robbed by a Reds player but was fortunate that the resulting shot at his empty goal was blocked.

Kelly, who had been kept quiet by the Droylsden back four, was alive when Thompson parried a stinging Allison shot but his effort was saved, although his blushes were spared by the offside flag.

Reds looked capable of finding a second goal to give themselves some breathing space every time Droylsden coughed the ball up in dangerous areas but they almost gave up their advantage when Wilkins wasted their best opening, while Dan Wordsworth had to clear an earlier effort off the line after the visitors robbed Grainger in the corner.