Recap
On a day when their relegation rivals all obtained priceless victories, Reds left Staffordshire pointless after a damaging defeat at Harrison Park.
They conceded the only goal of the match after just two minutes and, with chief goal scorers Steven Rigg and David Symington two of five absentees, rarely threatened a comeback.
There was no lack of effort but the service to lone striker, Jamie Allen, was poor and goal attempts were few and far between.
And the upshot of Taylor Bowen’s early headed goal is that Workington are now embroiled in a five-team scrap to avoid the one remaining relegation slot. Blyth Spartans, Mickleover and Basford United have already dropped through the trap-door to Step 4 football for next season with Matlock, Whitby, Bamber Bridge, Lancaster and Workington all in danger of accompanying them.
With just three games remaining, the concern is growing.
Match winner Bowen spent time with Reds last season before injury hampered his progress. He has performed well for Leek but didn’t have to work too hard for his goal and should have netted a second before half time.
Connor Pani headed one chance wide via a rare Reds’ corner but it was he who came closest to an equaliser. He was flattened on the edge of the area by a robust Nathan Okome challenge and took the subsequent free-kick himself. His well struck shot found a way round the blue defensive wall only for Town ‘keeper, Xander Parke, to palm the ball away to safety.
An opportunity fell to Allen in Reds’ next attack but he couldn’t lift the ball over Parke who saved easily. And half chances for Tom Stephenson and Ceiran Casson failed to hit the target.
Hayden Campbell thought he had doubled Leek’s advantage early in the second half but his celebrations were curtailed when the ‘goal’ was disallowed for an offside offence in the build-up.
But the hosts, who looked relegation certainties themselves a few months ago, were now in general control and Ollie Shenton’s weaving run culminated in a well hit shot which the recalled Alex Mitchell kept out with a fine save.
Campbell should have put the game to bed but was guilty of a glaring miss which almost proved costly. A late chance fell to Pani but his weak shot didn’t trouble Parke who gathered the ball comfortably.
They now have to sift through a lack-lustre display and make sure they are up for the challenge for three big games over the eight-day Easter programme.
Leek Town: Parke, Buckley, Heywood, Edwards, Okome, Reeves, Hurst (Shenton, 63), Porter, Bowen (Scott, 83), Weir, Campbell. Substitutes – Knowles, Milner, Foulds (not used).
Workington: Mitchell, Barnes, Clarke (Ambrose, 46), Casson, Swinglehurst, Little (Strachan, 61), Galloway, Pani, Jamie Allen, Grewal, Stephenson (McDonough, 78). Substitutes – Barrett, Christian (not used).
Referee: William Murray, Belper
Bookings: Campbell (Leek Town), Barnes (Workington)
Attendance: 505