Workington needed a winning performance after three successive defeats and they got it with a deserved 2-1 success at home to Stafford Rangers.
After the opening day demolition of Ashton United, Reds have been on the receiving end themselves conceding 13 goals and only scoring twice in those follow-up games.
But this was what they needed, a controlled display highlighting the passing, pressing and possession-based style which had earned them promotion last season.
Yet it wasn’t a game, certainly in the first-half, of chances at either end. Clearly the one worthy of note was in the 22nd minute when it looked as though Scott Allison was nailed on for his 151st Workington goal.
Greg McCarragher’s cross was volleyed fiercely six yards out by Allison but it was straight at goalkeeper Cameron Belford and although he didn’t know much about the save the ball dropped over the bar.
Stafford offered threats from set pieces with the giant figure of Nathan Blissett an obvious target but he did not get an opportunity in the first-half as Workington defended corners well, particularly through centre-back Dan Wordsworth and keeper Jim Atkinson.
However. it was from a corner in the second minute of the second half which provided Stafford with their goal, Blissett leaping effectively to head home.
Workington hit back on 56 minutes when Dav Symington cut in from the left and scored with a trademark low drive into the bottom corner across Belford.
Symington powered another effort into the side netting and Belford and Ethan Strewart managed to block Taylor Bowen when he almost got on the end of a Symington cross.
Stafford had their moments, too. There were a couple of goalmouth scrambles and Atkinson also produced a fine save to turn aside a close-range effort from Blissett under pressure from Wordsworth.
The three points were delivered by a goal three minutes from the end of normal time. A glorious through ball from Brad Hubbold was collected by Symington who held off a defender and then smashed the ball past Belford.
Wordsworth for some solid defending against bigger opposition; Symington for his two goals and Hubbold for his prompting in mid-field were the stand-oyt performers.
But this was essentially a solid team performance from the Reds who were able to clear their heads after the traumas inflicted by Ilkeston and Radcliffe.
