Workington’s title ambitions are out of their own hands after they lost 2-1 at Marine to stay second in NPL West.
They now trail Warrington Rylands by a point and both have two games to play with Reds hosting Kendal on Monday and Rylands travelling to 1874 Northwich.
Reds had themselves to blame for only their second away defeat of the season in the League as their first-half performance was largely sub-standard.
They were second best around the park and by the 25th minute were trailing 2-0 in front of an increasingly enthusiastic 1,200 crowd.
Things did improve towards the end of the half with Nico Evangelinos giving them hope with a very well-taken goal just before the break.
Reds best spell in an improved second half performance came in the first 20 minutes when they could easily have turned the deficit into a lead.
Dav Symington skimmed the outside of the post with a typical thunderous strike from outside the area and then Ruben Jerome had a header turned onto the bar by keeper Bayleigh Passant and cleared after a scramble in the six yard box.
Evengelinos then did really well to find space down the outside and a perfect inviting low cross flew a foot from goal only needing a touch but without anyone gambling to get in there.
But the best chance of all fell to Evangelinos after he had done really well, twisting and turning in the box and he actually left Passant on his backside but inexplicably shot over from six yards.
Reds were never as close again despite still dominating possession and the challenge sadly petered out as Marine game managed to see them over the line in the closing stages.
Earlier time-wasting from the home side had not gone down well with the Reds players and their travelling support. On too many occasions players stayed down after contact.
Indeed referee Matthew McQuillan, who was taking charge of a Reds game for a fourth time this season, did not match his previous performances. He had been complimented by Reds after his handling of the FA Cup replay which Marine won back in August.
Scott Allison, in particular, came in for some rough treatment from Marine’s central defenders but rarely were they punished for the challenges.
Marine, though, had certainly deserved their early lead with goals in the 28th and 34th minutes.
Although Reds initially cleared a long throw for the first it was returned to the box and Ben Hughes got in ahead of his marker to head firmly past Jim Atkinson.
Then six minutes later a long free kick taken by Passant must have travelled 70 yards to where it was superbly controlled by Lewis Reilly who whipped in a low shot past Atkinson.
Reds were given their life-line in the seven minutes of stoppage time with a fine goal from Evengelinos. He turned one way, and then the other before rifling a great shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner beyond the diving Passant.
It was enough to set up a much better second half performance but they couldn’t take the game-changing chances that came their way.
