Leek Town secured back to back 1-0 home wins following up last weeks result against Bamber Bridge with another narrow win against Workington to continue their recent run of good results.

Despite the win moving the Blues up one place to 12th, given results elsewhere, it doesn’t quite 100% guarantee safety against relegation from the Pitching In Northern Premier League but it would now take an extraordinary set of results to send Josh Brehauts side down.

The Leek manager named an unchanged line up for this fixture and saw his side make the perfect start, scoring with their first attack of the match with just 2mins on the clock.

The ball was played down the right channel to Hayden Campbell just outside the area. He feinted to go down the line but cut back and delivered a left footed cross that swung to the far post where strike partner Taylor Bowen met it with a header back across the face of goal and the ball crept inside the post to put the Blues ahead.

The home sides positive start continued as Alex Hursts dangerous cross to the far post forced Steven Swinglehurst to put the ball behind for the first corner of the game with Campbell lurking behind him, before Campbell and Lucas Weir both had shots well blocked by the visiting defence being made to work overtime in the early stages.

Workington were missing their two top goal scorers in Dav Symington and Stephen Rigg, and it showed as they struggled to create any chances of note against a solid looking Leek back line despite the best efforts of the lively Jamie Allen and Ruben Grewal up front.

Their best opportunity came on 17mins from a free kick just outside the Leek Penalty area taken by Connor Pani. He struck the ball well but Xander Parke was equal to it and produced a good save flying to his left.

Shortly afterwards Leek nearly doubled their lead when Bowen neatly flicked on a long ball to Hurst who drew in a couple of defenders before cutting into the area and playing a return square pass to Bowen. He opted to shoot first time but his side footed effort was just narrowly past the same post in which he had earlier scored.

The visitors were still striving to get on level terms and had a half chance on 31mins when a long ball unexpectedly found its way through to Allen in space. He took a touch and tried to lob Parke as Liam Edward’s and Nathan Okome closed in on him but the Leek goalkeeper comfortably held the ball above his head.

A further spell of pressure just before half time saw the Blues defence having to deal with a string of crosses before Olly Heywood produced a good block to deny Charlie Barnes low effort and then saw Ceiron Casson get carried away as the stocky midfielder fired high and wide from about 30yards out.

Leek, therefore, despite only playing in spurts went into the break good value for their single goal lead.

LEEK TOWN 1 - WORKINGTON AFC 0 HT

Workington brought on ex-Celtic and Hibernian player Efe Ambrose at the start of the second half and he slotted into the visitors back line as play resumed.

The first 15mins of the half were rather dull with neither side threatening until on the hour mark a clever chip through into the box from Adam Porter was well finished first time by Campbell but he was marginally offside and the goal was ruled out.

On 63mins substitute Olly Shenton came onto the pitch to replace Alex Hurst, who had taken a knock, and was immediately in the action showing neat footwork wide on the right to work the space to swing a dangerous cross to the far post that Barnes had to put behind for a corner. This was cleared but Leek managed to recycle and attack again ending with Porter dragging a left foot effort well wide.

The Blues were beginning to put together a decent passage of play and forced three corners within the space of a couple of minutes as they looked to extend their lead but were unable to avoid the head of Ambrose with their deliveries as Workington cleared their lines.

The game started to open up a little more as the visitors pressed forward and Leek were finding a lot of space on the counterattack and should have made the game safe but for a couple of wayward finishes and one great save from goalkeeper Alex Mitchell.

The save came after 72mins when Shenton took advantage of a lucky break in maintaining possession of the ball from a Workington challenge to advance forward and, as the defence backed off, the shooting opportunity arose and he hit a good effort from outside of the area that Mitchell managed to reach and tip away.

On 78mins Campbell did all of the hard work to beat and break free from the attentions of Ambrose and with Mitchell off his line the opportunity was there for the straight lob but the striker miscued his effort and skewed it wide.

Then on 88mins a Porter cross from the left was nicely flicked on to wrong foot the Workington defence to find Campbell stealing in unmarked at the far post but once again his connection let him down and the ball went across the face of goal and wide.

It was therefore still only 1-0 as the game entered into a nervy 5mins of added time in which Workington again delivered a number of crosses into the box in the hope that something would fall to a red shirt. On one occasion it did but Pani also failed to get a proper connection on his effort and Parke saved easily to earn himself a consecutive clean sheet and ensure his side deservedly picked up the three points.

LEEK TOWN 1 - WORKINGTON AFC 0 FT

REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

With three games to go the Blues are 9 points clear of the relegation zone and sit 12th in the table, just sneaking into the top half - but no cigar yet as the maths still mean any team from 11th to 19th could occupy the last relegation spot come the end of the season.

We now travel to MICKLEOVER on Good Friday (18 April 2025) with a 745pm kick off, its then a quick turnaround as we play our last home game of the season against MACCLESFIELD on Easter Monday (21 April 2025) with a 3pm kick off

Fans are reminded that this game is ALL TICKET and SEGREGATED and need to purchase their ticket in ADVANCE HERE alternatively we will be opening the Clubhouse this week to sell tickets on Monday 14 April and later dates to be announced (please keep an eye on social media for details).

Match Photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE