“They did to us what I want to do to other teams,” was Mark Fell’s response to his side’s 3-1 home defeat to play-off chasing Stockton Town.
After two crucial victories in the past fortnight, Reds were below par on this occasion and slumped to their 13th defeat of a topsy-turvy season.
It leaves them still with work to do as they attempt to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Yet the Premier Division encounter had started well for Reds with Ceiran Casson opening the scoring with just seven minutes on the clock.
The ball fell conveniently for the midfielder after a corner had only been partially cleared and he despatched a firmly hit shot beyond Nathan Harker into the net.
The celebrations were short-lived, though, and the Teessiders were level just six minutes later with the goal similar to Workington’s opener.
Again, it was from a corner and when the hosts failed to deal with the initial danger, Tom Coulthard’s sweetly struck shot found a way past Alex Mitchell at his near post.
Most of Workington’s good work was in defence as they repelled a period of Stockton pressure but, in a rare counter attack, they almost regained the lead. Tom Stephenson, put in the clear by Kai Nugent’s assist, saw his low shot blocked by Harker’s fine save.
The contest swung in Stockton’s favour on the hour mark when Jamie Allen wasted a good opportunity at one end and Town countered to score at the other.
Harker’s long ball downfield caused a bit of uncertainty in the home defence, leaving Josh Scott and Michael Sweet in acres of space. Scott rolled the ball into his colleague’s path and Sweet converted with ease.
And the visitors made certain of the victory, and a league double, two minutes before the end of normal time.
Stephen Thompson’s cross from the right flank should have been a routine catch for Mitchell but the ‘keeper lost his footing and, as he slipped, the ball sailed over his head and came to rest in the net.
“The three goals we conceded today were awful and there is an accountability issue with all of them,” lamented a frustrated Fell.
Next up for Reds is the long trip to Ilkeston followed by what could be described as a ‘six-pointer’ at Bamber Bridge.
