Workington powered to a convincing 7-0 win over West Allotment Celtic to reach the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.
For the Newcastle side, who have been going since 1928, this was their heaviest defeat in the competition.
It was their 2-0 win at Penrith which had prevented an all-Cumbrian tie but, as Reds boss Danny Grainger observed – they didn’t seem up for this one as one would have thought.
They had opportunities to get on the score-sheet but for the most part were outplayed by a Workington side who produced comfortably their best performance in these early days.
Indeed they played more football, created more chances and took most of them in the first half than they had in all of the previous two games.
It was more like the measured, possession football that had graced Grainger’s first stint as Workington manager.
Three goals inside three minutes got Reds in front and from there they had much the better of things as any stiff resistance from the home side seemed to melt away.
The opener on 18 minutes stemmed from a strike by Bobby Carroll outside the area which got a touch from acting skipper Scott Allison to leave home keeper Dan Gladstone helpless.
Three minutes later a booming deep corner from Dav Symington saw Steve Rigg climb highest and his header across the keeper found the opposite corner.
It was Symington who made it 3-0 on 35 minutes. He drove forward in typical fashion and although it wasn’t one of his blockbusters was always heading for the bottom corner with Gladstone flat-footed.
Perhaps the best goal of the half came three minutes from the break. Tom Mahone, adjusting well from his step up in level, found Symington and a lifted ball forward was cleverly laid-off by Allison to Reuben Jerome who smashed home into the top corner.
Celtic had two chances in the first-half and both fell to Scott McCarthy. The first saw him do well to work a shooting position in the Reds box but his shot was palmed away by Jim Atkinson.
Then late-on McCarthy was through on goal and just about to fire one when Ekew Coker got back to make a superbly timed saving tackle.
With a 4-0 half-time lead the tie was effectively won and how many times have we seen no further goals in contests like these.
But on 60 minutes Reds scored again with two substitutes involved. Jordan Palmer showed good feet in the six yard box and although his angled shot seemed to be going wide it struck Greg McGarragher and flew into the net.
The sixth goal, like the fourth, was nicely crafted and emphatically fashioned.
Allison and James Hooper worked a one-two down the left and the latter finished with aplomb with an angled shot past Gladstone.
There was still time to send the travelling Reds fans into seventh heaven when two minutes from the end Symington let fly and found the net with the help of a defender’s backside.
With defeats for Carlisle City and Kendal Town it will be Reds who carry Cumbrian hopes into Monday’s lunchtime draw.
