Workington confirmed a play-off semi-final tie with Clitheroe on Tuesday night after their 4-0 home win over Colne.
It didn’t change Reds’ final position in NPL West as they finished third with Leek Town claiming second after they came from behind to beat Skelmersdale 3-1.
Clitheroe, fielding virtually a second team, lost 3-1 at home to Kidsgrove but Runcorn only drew 0-0 at Trafford to stay fifth.
Unfortunately for Colne the defeat at Borough Park, and Glossop’s 2-1 win at Bootle, meant they were relegated.
The final game in the regular season was marred, ahead of the play-offs, by an injury to centre-half and captain Sam Smith who had to be re-placed early in the contest.
It meant a reshuffle by Danny Grainger and with Cieran Casson already operating at centre-back he had Steven Rigg alongside him. Rigg proceeded to play a strong role in Reds’ success.
There hadn’t been much in the early stages with Colne’s Alex Doyle having a low shot saved by Danny Eccles and at the other end Hakan Burton easily held Lewis Reilly’s header.
But it was Rigg who put Workington in front on 34 minutes when he got to a fiercely driven free kick from Dav Symington ahead of Burton to steer home.
The second came on 41 minutes when Symington took advantage of a rebound off a Colne defender to go on and drive past Burton.
Then in the second minute of time added on Reilly was there to knock in the third when Burton could only parry a shot from Symington.
Colne looked as though they would pull one back early in the second half when Malick Diakite weaved his way into the area and Eccles had to make a fine diving block to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Although Workington dominated the second-half they could only add one more goal three minutes from time when Kai Nugent played in Ruben Jerome and he finished with aplomb.
Reds had three teenagers on the field in the second-half with 17-year-old Zach Benson-Lester taking over at half-time from Dav Symington. He joined Keelan Leslie and Kai Nugent in the Reds line-up.
“We are happy to bring-on promising youngsters with the first team squad and there are a few more in our Development squad who will get their chance next season.
“I made changes on the day and always believed the team I selected had enough about it to win the game which we did well.
“It’s now all about Tuesday and to be honest it wouldn’t have mattered which one of the other three we played, they are all good sides.
“But I expect us to be ready for the challenge and I know we are all looking forward to it,” said Grainger.
