Workington had to withstand a late rally from Colne to collect their 11th away win of the season.
They led 3-0 after 80 minutes before goals in the 89th and 91st minutes gave Colne late hope – with Reds hanging on at the finish.
Danny Grainger had gone with the same side that started against Glossop on Saturday, and went with the same bench.
Colne started brightly and Owen Watkinson was not far away from reaching a fizzed cross from wide-out.
Top scorer Dav Symington had the first Reds attempt which was blocked at the expense of a corner. A second quickly followed but Colne dealt with them.
Then both sides had chances in quick succession. Symington had another shot blocked and Conor Tinnion’s follow-up was well saved by Hakam Burton.
Then Colne almost cashed in on a defensive mistake by the Reds but Jim Atkinson produced a timely save.
Symington was seeing plenty of the ball and when he unleashed another effort on goal once more it was blocked by a defender.
Then it was Brad Hubbold who got a shot away but it took a deflection and became an easier save for Burton.
Reds had been building pressure and they took the lead on 22 minutes when Bobby Carroll linked with Kai Nugent and the youngster’s cross was lifted over the keeper by Scott Allison.
Lucas Weaver had a chance to test Atkinson but the Reds keeper dealt comfortably with the shot.
Then Atkinson launched a long through ball for Symington to chase and he was unlucky when he lifted his shot over the keeper but also over the bar.
It had been a lively first half with Colne playing their part, but Reds were certainly the more dangerous, particularly when they broke quickly.
It was a quieter start to the second half but Reds did double their lead on 65 minutes.
A good build-up from the back ended with Keelan Leslie lifting the ball into the home box and although substitute Ruben Jerome saw his first effort blocked he got another chance and finished with aplomb.
Colne had their best moment of the half when they got the ball into the box. Atkinson didn’t hold on but did really well to get it at the second attempt just before a home player challenged.
Workington had the opportunity to make certain of the points in the 80th minute when Symington was brought down in the box.
Skipper Conor Tinnion stepped-up and sent Burton the wrong way to notch Reds’ third goal.
Colne spoiled Reds’ clean sheet prospect in the 89th minute when Malik Diakite netted for the hosts.
Then there was a second for the hosts in the first minute of time added on when a superb strike after a corner from substitute Mateusz Kardacz found the bottom corner.
Colne pressed again and had an opportunity from two successive corners with Reds hanging on but they got there in the end.
Grainger’s men now need a point to be certain of making the play-offs from their last five games.
It looks like they will finish second or third with the Cumbrians closing in on rivals Leek Town who drew 1-1 at home to Mossley. They are now just a point behind their rivals.
Manager Grainger said: “I am absolutely delighted to have got the points. We played some good football and it was a perfect performance for 91 minutes.
“Colne are fighting for every point to avoid relegation so we knew they would keep going. Some teams might have crumbled because they had two corners after it became 3-2 but we defended really well.
“We go to Widnes on Saturday and need to concentrate on ourselves and not worry about what Leek and the others are doing.”