Workington Reds were 6-1 winners at Whitley Bay as they got their pre-season programme moving again.
The west Cumbrians have been frustrated at losing two successive Tuesday night friendlies against Morecambe and Carlisle City.
Danny Grainger’s men certainly showed no shortage of outings as the scored three goals in each half, and could have had more.
Reds passed the ball around well, keeping possession the way Grainger demands, and they also did well in the pressing side of their game which continually restricted their hosts’ options on the ball.
Grainger said: “I was really pleased at how we performed and the young lads who we used certainly didn’t look out of place. The fact that we have experienced lads like Steven Rigg and Conor Tinnion in the side helps them.
“I’m very pleased with how Lewis Reilly has settled in this season. He was desperate to stay because he enjoys playing for the club, coming to training and being around the squad. We had a serious chat about what was required and Lewis has really worked hard on his fitness and we are going to gain the benefits.”
Kofi Moore, on loan from Oldham Athletic, had a particularly effective game, scoring his first Workington goal and also claiming four assists.
It was skipper Tinnion who gave Workington the lead on 28 minutes. He robbed a Bay defender, went past another and then finished clinically into the bottom corner.
The second came on 35 minutes after the home keeper saved from Reilly but the ball went loose and Moore was first there to calmly square the ball back to Bobby Carroll who drilled his shot home through a crowd of players.
Whitley Bay pulled one back on 40 minutes when they managed to create an opportunity – virtually for the first time. A cross eluded the TReds defence and Lewis Suddick, grandson of the former Newcastle, Blackpool and Workington player chested the ball home from two yards.
But Reds quickly regained their two-goal advantage when Moore won the ball, found Reilly and the centre-forward cleverly chipped the keeper with the ball going in off the post.
Workington made it 4-1 after 53 minutes. Reilly found Moore whose shot flew back to Reilly. Again the ball was played in to Moore and this time he made no mistake.
On 65 minutes a Moore cross was turned into his own net by home defender Elliott Day, although Keelan Leslie was waiting for a tap-in.
The final goal came on 82 minutes and this time Moore found Connor Hammill (playing as a trialist) who calmly steered the ball home to round-off an excellent team performance.
Reds hope it will be third time lucky on Tuesday after their two postponements, when they are due to host Penrith at Borough Park.
