Workington Reds eased through to the quarter finals of the Cumberland Cup after a 5-0 home win over Maryport Athletic last night.
But it was a creditable performance from the County League side who were all square with just five minutes of the first-half remaining.
Then midfielder James Bell turned smartly on the edge of the area before curling in a shot which keeper Joe Porter could only help into the net.
Three minutes later Reds doubled their lead when a shot from Bell cannoned off a Maryport defender to Conor Tinnion who finished from close range.
Maryport had defended well, with Gary Pearson and Adam Johnson prominent, and Workington had been kept at arms length for the most part.
Four members of Reds’ first team squad had been held up en route by traffic congestion and three of them were immediately introduced after the break – Ruben Jerome, Donae Lawrence and Iyrwah Gooden.
Jerome had an early chance to get on the score-sheet but when he stepped up to take a 49th minute penalty he saw his effort saved by Porter.
However, 10 minutes later Jerome was well positioned to turn home an effort from Gooden before Porter could get across to save.
Maryport continued to work hard, play the right way in a tidy fashion but rarely looked like causing serious problems to the home defence.
Sam Smith made it 4-0 on 83 minutes, and once again it was a shot from Gooden which was helped into the net, this time by the centre-half.
The scoring was completed on 89 minutes when Jerome finished well after a marauding run from Lawrence and clever ball from Tinnion.
Because of the late arrival, forward Louis Rowe did not get a run-out as he recovers fitness and only three substitutions were allowed.
Reds don’t have a League game on Saturday but manager Chris Willcock is hoping to arrange a friendly to keep the players ticking over after last Saturday’s excellent win at Mossley.
