Workington were able to build on their improved display in the FA Cup at the weekend to record their first away win in the League last night.
Despite being reduced to 10 men with a controversial sending-off on 36 minutes – and inspired by a Jim Atkinson penalty save – Reds produced a masterful display at Ramsbottom to win 3-0.
Tom Mahone was the man shown a straight red for a tackle on a Ramsbottom attacker after Atkinson had gone full-length to parry a shot from Jack Grimshaw.
But from the resultant spot kick Atkinson again acrobatically dived to his left to turn away the effort from James Murphy.
Reds had already taken the lead on 18 minutes before that key incident, which had come after Ramsbottom best spell of the game.
But the ten men, with Dav Symington switched to a defensive role on the righthand side, handled the situation well to see it through to half-time with their lead intact.
Then, despite the handicap, they were the better side at the start of the second-half ands comfortably in front until Ramsbottom were also reduced to ten men.
In the 67th minute Ruben Jerome was taken out as he cut in along the by-line and Will Hall was shown his second yellow card of the night to leave the contest – limping off in the process.
Rammy were punished even more from the subsequent free-kick as Reds skipper Conor Tinnion took it from the tightest of angles and his trusty left foot delivered an arrowed finish to beat Charlie Monks at his near-post.
The victory was rounded-off in the 77th minute with a third goal. Neat inter-play between Cieran Casson and Scott Allison ended with Reds record goal-scorer producing a trademark finish to beat Monks.
Allison, playing a deeper role in centre mid-field, also had a hand in the opening goal.
Symington had made a burst down the left and the ball into the box was cleverly shifted on by Allison to Jerome who turned to fire into the roof of the net.
It was a satisfying performance and result for manager Danny Grainger who admitted he had been at his lowest ebb after the 1-0 home defeat by Clitheroe on Bank Holiday Monday.
Grainger said after the game: “We had a very good training session last Thursday when we went through a lot of things, looked at videos and talked about how I wanted them to play.
“The results in how we’ve played have been excellent. We deserved to beat a Premier Division side on Saturday and I thought we dominated for much of the game tonight.
“I am confident if we continue to play like this we will climb the table to be where we want to be as promotion contenders.”
Once again, as on Saturday at South Shields, Reds did not have a weak link with some outstanding performances notably Atkinson, Dan Wordsworth, Sam Smith, Tinnion and Jerome.
Reds take a break from League fare this Saturday to play at home to Runcorn Linnets in the FA Trophy and there will be fitness checks on the likes of Symington, Tinnion and Allison.
Mahone will be available after his red card and the suspension won’t kick in until next week.
Grainger said: “I don’t think it was a red card. He made a genuine attempt to play the ball and as such it should only have been a yellow. Full marks to Jim for a superb penalty save.”
