After so many near misses as well as COVID affected seasons, Workington finally made it – promotion back to the NPL Premier Division.
The Reds needed extra time to beat Runcorn Linnets 2-1 at a packed Borough Park, but there wouldn’t be many – even of opposition persuasion – that would say they hadn’t deserved the victory.
Danny Grainger’s men had to come from behind after conceding the opener on only six minutes and after a nervy opening quarter began to dominate.
They drew level on the half hour with an own goal and throughout the second-half did everything except score as Kai Nugent hit the bar, Dav Symington went close and Linnets keeper Danny Taberner made a couple of excellent saves.
Grainger said: “I’m very proud of what these players have achieved this season. I said from the word go it isn’t about 11 players, we have a squad of twenty and all of them have helped in some way to get us over the line.
“It was always going to be a tough game today because Runcorn are a good team but I thought once we got level, and particularly in the second half and through extra-time we dominated them. I can only remember one goalmouth scramble late on when we looked in any danger.
“I’ve told the boys to enjoy their night. They don’t come round a lot in most players’ careers so you have to enjoy the highs of the game when you experience them.”
Runcorn had taken the lead after only six minutes when Steven Rigg seemed to get himself in a tangle on the ball and Lewis Doyle was able to poke a shot past Jim Atkinson.
It took some time for Reds to find their rhythm but gradually they put the Linnets under more and more pressure and duly drew level on 30 minutes. Great feet by young Kai Nugent put the Runcorn defence off-guard and when he pulled the ball back Linnets defender Sam Heathcote slammed the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.
Reds really started to boss the game in the second half and after Nugent hit the bar the dangerous Symington brought a save out of Taberner when it looked bound for the net.
They couldn’t find as winner and in extra-time there was a fear it was going to be another of those days when a Symington cracker hit the underside of the bar and dropped the right side of the line for the Linnets.
But on 99 minutes Reds scored what proved to be the winning goal. Symington and Bobby Carroll were involved in a good link-up down the left and from the cross Lewis Reilly turned it home from six yards.
A magnificent crowd of 2,506 celebrated afterwards as skipper Conor Tinnion was presented with the Play Off winners trophy to spark joyous scenes. NPL Premier Division – we are back.
A second goal from Workington Reds in extra time saw the Reds cruise to victory.
