Workington were involved in an eight-goal thriller with the right outcome at Borough Park, but Danny Grainger’s injury crisis deepened with another serious injury.
Lewis Reilly became Reds latest casualty when he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.
It took the gloss of Workington’s 5-3 win over Basford United, a victory which hoisted Reds to 15th in the table – nearer the play-offs than the relegation zone.
Grainger had already gone into the contest without seven members of his squad – one through work commitments and the others carrying varying degrees of knocks and bruises and more worrying injuries.
At half-time Workington were 2-0 ahead and comfortable, after completely dominating the opening 45 minutes. There was no indication that the sides would share six goals in the second-half.
Basford, who offered no threat in the first-half, had actually drawn level by the 65th minute as a definite switch in momentum saw the visitors take advantage of some rather indifferent defending.
It was the introduction of substitute Kofi Moore on 66 minutes which really proved the catalyst for the Reds response which took them two goals clear – and fittingly it was the Oldham loanee who wrapped it up at the start of time added on.
Moore, two-goal Dav Symington, inspirational skipper Conor Tinnion and marauding full-back Fin Wallbank took the individual honours – particularly when they were needed in the second-half.
There was also a pleasing debut from 21-year-old Niall Brookwell, former Liverpool Academy and Newcastle Under-21’s captain who spent last season on loan at Darlington.
He has been training with Reds for three weeks and has signed non-contract terms, operating in a holding mid-field role on this occasion but he can play centre-back.
Reds had several efforts at goal – the most notable from Symington with a fierce drive from 35 yards which keeper Louis Turner clawed away at full stretch – in the first half an hour of the game.
The breakthrough came on 35 minutes when Wallbank lifted in a ball which Tinnion headed at goal. Turner couldn’t hold it and when it came back to Tinnion he rolled it across for Brad Hubbold to finish accurately from ten yards.
A minute before the break Reds were able to double the lead. Steve Rigg, who had replaced Reilly up top, got in a header which came back off the post but was retrieved by Greg McCaragher.
He simply squared the ball into the path of Symington who placed a low drive into the bottom corner as Turner stood helpless and watched.
But the start of the second-half as Basford, changed shape and also appeared to have a different mind-set.
They took up the running and although Reds defended superbly, with two brave blocks in the penalty area, the conceded corner on 59 minutes provided the visitors with their equaliser.
There was an almighty scramble to get on the end of the dangerous in-swinging corner and it was Barnsley loanee Josiah Dyer who claimed the goal off his chest.
Workington new prevalence to give the ball away cost them on 65 minutes when a ball into the area was only half cleared and Charlie Wakefield drilled an angle first time shot beyond Jim Atkinson into the far corner.
Moore came on for Brookwell immediately after that and within four minutes had scored a beauty to restore Reds’ lead.
Rigg headed on and a follow-up header from Tinnion found Moore inside the area on the right hand side. He didn’t hesitate, took it on first time and crashed a great shot beyond Turner into the top corner.
They restored their two goal advantage in the 77th minute. This time it was a great run from deep by Wallbank almost into the Basford area before finding Symington on the left. He went past his man before firing low past Turner.
But still Basford weren’t finished. Some fragile defending by Reds allowed Jack Thomas to get through and fire past the helpless Atkinson on 80 minutes.
It stayed 4-3 until the 90th minute and the start of seven minutes of time added on.
Basford had a strong shout for a penalty turned aside and when Reds broke Moore was sent clear. He kept his nerve in a one-on-one and calmly drilled the ball past Turner to cement the Workington win.
