Workington Reds went top of the North Premier League West with a stunning 2-0 win at Clitheroe.
Two superb strikes from Dav Symington – one in each half – gave Reds the win against aside who had started the day in top spot.
It was a remarkable result considering that Reds were without six senior players, five of them missing through injury and the other away on a pre-booked holiday.
In four League games so far Reds have not conceded a goal, which has impressed manager Chris Willcock the most as from day one he has been stressing the need not to concede.
They did soak up a fair bit of pressure but defended really well with recent signing Kyle Harrison showing up well at centre-back and full-back Matty Clarke earning man of the match ratings.
Reds had started really well, though, taking the game to their hosts and took the lead on ten minutes when Symington fired a trademark free-kick on the edge of the wall over the defensive wall.
Scott Allison and new signing Donae Lawrence both saw efforts blocked on the line as Reds were unlucky not to double their lead.
Lawrence, 21, joined Reds from the North East Counties League side Liversedge having started his career in the youth team at Sheffield United. He was particularly impressive in the first half.
Although Clitheroe saw a bit of the ball early in the second-half Reds were again watertight in defence and it was the Cumbrians who grabbed the second goal.
It came on 59 minutes and followed good build-up before Symington hit an absolute rocket from an angle outside the box and the home keeper never saw it until it hit the net.
One seasoned travelling Reds fan said: “Given the circumstances, the players who were missing and the quality of the opposition that was one of Reds best away performances in recent years.”
