WITTON Albion were rewarded for an improved second-half showing as they extended an unbeaten start to the season on Tuesday.

It means Carl Macauley’s men travel to Barwell this weekend, a pre-cursor to a mouth-watering encounter with Altrincham on Bank Holiday Monday, in buoyant mood.

They were without injured full-back Matty Devine, prompting a recall for Paul Williams in midfield.

However the visitors were slow to start after a long journey north, and breathed a sigh of relief after watching Scott Allison blaze high after sneaking behind the visitors’ defence.

The home team were awarded a penalty by referee John Mulligan when Calvin Hare hauled down Allison after the attacker had reached first an under-hit back-pass.

However Anthony Wright’s spot kick was blocked brilliantly by Witton’s goalkeeper with an outstretched leg.

The visitors served a warning they had woken up when Williams’ free-kick flashed across the face of goal.

Meanwhile at the other end Allison wasted another opportunity to put his side in front when he came face-to-face with Hare, sending the ball wide of goal.

“We were poor in the first half,” reflected Macauley.

“But we changed our shape at half-time, and I felt we were the better side after that.”

Workington went closest though at the start of the second period when Dave Symington’s free-kick had Hare scrambling at the foot of an upright.

Albion responded, and took the lead on 51 minutes.

Anthony Gardner’s cross reached Steven Tames, who nodded the ball on to James Foley.

The midfielder’s drilled low in Rob Hopley’s direction, and the front man – left unmarked – opened his account for the campaign with a simple tap-in.

Foley was denied in shooting stride after Prince Haywood and substitute Will Jones, on for Tames, had combined.

However Workington drew level with eight minutes left thanks to a moment of brilliance from Conor Tinnion.

After drifting away from several attempted tackles, he planted a shot out of Hare’s reach with the help of a slight deflection.

Albion might have nicked maximum points had replacement Alex Newby’s shot crept in after Jones teed him up.

Hopley had a glimpse of goal too in added time only for defender Sam Smith to execute his intervention to prevent the striker doubling his personal tally.

Workington | Taylor (GK), Simpson, Mellen, Wordsworth, Smith, Calvert, Symington, Wright, Allison, Joel (Ryan 68), Tinnion Subs not used Douglas, MacDonald, Carter, Fowler Goal Tinnion 82

Witton | Hare (GK), Wilson, Brown, Ryan, Gardner, Haywood, Williams (Newby 73), Foley, Hedley, Tames (Jones 59), Hopley Subs not used Evans, Neild (GK) Goal Hopley 51

Referee John Mulligan

Attendance 391

Match report by Phil Chadwick