A goal in the first minute of second half stoppage time from Chekaine Steele saw Hednesford Town deservedly claim a share of the points against Workington at Keys Park.
The home side started the game well with Reece King firing an effort wide of the post in the second minute while there were calls for a penalty two minutes later but instead Jordan Graham was booked for a dive in the area.
Ben Bailey then saw a header saved on the line by Aaran Taylor as the Pitmen continued to press. Danny Glover did well to win two set pieces soon afterwards but neither would lead to an effort on goal.
Despite this bright start it would be the visitors that would go ahead in the 24th minute when King was adjudged to have committed a foul in the penalty area. Although Hednesford goalkeeper James Wren got a hand to Scott Allison’s spot-kick, the ball found the bottom corner of the net to open the scoring.
The Pitmen didn’t let this get to them and were soon on the offensive again with appeals for handball in the penalty area being turned away in the 27th minute before Alex Melbourne fired an effort over the ten minutes later after the ball had fallen to him on the edge of the box.
Hednesford had to survive just one more chance on the stroke of halftime when a corner was cleared as far as James Earl but he blasted his effort well over the bar.
HT: 0-1
The home side started the second half well without really testing Taylor in the Workington goal, although James Lawrie almost deceived him when his effort from the halfway line drifted narrowly wide.
Hednesford were indebted to Wren though in the 62nd minute as the ball fell to Allison at the back post and his shot was saved with Joe Fitzpatrick making a fine block for a corner from the follow-up.
Wren was called into action in the 74th minute as he again denied Allison before Joey Butlin went close for the Pitmen with ten minutes remaining.
Just when it looked as if Hednesford’s efforts would go unrewarded they would equalise right at the death. Substitute Chekaine Steele drove forward and fired in a low effort from the edge of the box to bring the scores level.
All this good work was nearly undone in the final minute of stoppage time as Wren superbly tipped an effort onto the crossbar with Jim Mutton making a fine block on the follow-up to deny the visitors a last gasp winner.
Hednesford Town: Wren, Melbourne, Campion, Bailey, Mutton, Fitzpatrick, King (Collins 75), Thorley, Glover (Butlin 72), Graham, Lawrie (Steele 65)
Subs not used: Weir, Davies
Workington AFC: Taylor, Douglas, Smith, Wordsworth, Calvert, Wright, Earl (Wilson 70), Holt, Waterston, Allison, Symington
Subs not used: Joel, Mellen, Rowntree, Fowler
Attendance: 403
