KEIGHLEY Cougars saw their hopes of having a home final at Cougar Park dashed in golden point extra-time by Workington Town.

On the back of an error strewn first half, the Cougars' second half performance was dogged and determined and saw them dramatically level the game in the final minute through Kyle Kesik’s first try of the season.

However, after allowing the home side to retrieve their own kick-off as extra-time began, Carl Forber secured progression and home advantage for Workington with a penalty conversion for a high tackle.

Backed by a healthy travelling support in the strong winds and driving rain of west Cumbria, Keighley were slow out the traps in this semi-final, as the home side broke the deadlock inside three minutes.

Workington forced a knock-on near to the line and from the restart, they pressured early into the set, allowing Caine Barnes to power his way over from close range.

The Cougars levelled almost immediately in unusual circumstances.

After Alex Young comfortably took possession of the ball from a kick, the Keighley kick chase pressured him back in goal.

With it looking like a dropout was the likely outcome, the ball came loose, and Jack Miller reacted quickest to pounce for the try.

Dec O’Donnell nearly restored the Town lead but was held up, with the second home score instead coming from the play on the ten-metre line.

After a big hit on Conor Fitzsimmons by Jake Webster, the two players became entangled in back play with players from both sides getting involved.

But with Keighley waiting for a whistle that would not sound, Brad Holroyd took full advantage of the gap left in the defensive line to weave through and score with ease.

The Cougars then had a sustained period of pressure near to the line but couldn’t turn it into points.

Then another handling error gave the home side field position, and they took advantage as Barnes made the most of an inside pass to turn through and tackle and get over for his second try of the afternoon.

Both sides had further opportunities to score before the break but neither could find a way back over the line.

The second half began with Rhys Lovegrove’s Cougars finding a route back into the game.

After forcing a knock-on, Miller created space in the defensive line and fed Charlie Graham through the gap, as the centre raced to the line and dived over.

This lit a fire within the visitors, and they pushed for the score that would level the game.

The Workington defence continued to match the red siege heading towards them and kept it at bay.

Keighley winger Mo Agoro touched down in the right-hand corner, but the effort was disallowed, as the touch judge ruled that his foot had made contact with the sideline as he grounded the ball.

With the clock winding down, scenes of jubilation followed with little over a minute remaining.

A kick on the last from Miller dropped on to the Workington line, and with a number of jumping bodies from both sides failing to catch the ball, it fell into the hands of Kesik, who crashed over in front of the ecstatic Keighley support.

Scores now level, the game headed into golden point extra-time.

The Cougars won the toss and opted to receive possession, but the bounce of the ball from the kick-off allowed Workington to retrieve it and have a fresh set 30 metres out from the line.

The referee then blew up for a high tackle 10 metres out, allowing Forber to seal the win.

The defeat means Keighley drop into the final eliminator. That will see them host Doncaster at Cougar Park next Sunday (3pm), with the winner visiting Workington in the promotion play-off final the following Sunday (1pm).