Workington eased their relegation worries after completing a league double over Prescot Cables in front of a four-figure crowd at Borough Park.
Reds won their first game of the season under Mark Fell at Prescot back in August but Saturday’s important victory against the same opposition was under the temporary management trio of Brian Dawson, Billy Redden and Craig Routledge.
They will oversee matters until the end of the season following Fell’s recent departure.
And the winning start by the new regime has taken Reds to within one point of safety as they inch towards Premier Division survival in the Northern Premier League.
In-form Cables made a bright start to the game and had their moments.
Reds’ keeper Alex Mitchell had to save bravely to thwart Kyle Sambor in the first half then smother a James Foley shot on the line in the second to preserve a rare clean sheet.
But it was Calvin Hare who emerged the busier of the two keepers with a series of fine saves in the second half.
“They were well on top in the early stages and we were lucky to stay in the game at that point and I was happy that we reached half time without conceding,” said former Workington player Dawson.
“But we tweaked a few things and gradually grew into the game and it was good to see the work that we did in training come to fruition. And we got outstanding performances from all eleven players and the substitutes who came on and deserved the three points by the finish.”
Jamie Allen saw one effort crash against the bar in the first half but when Steven Rigg netted the rebound, he was promptly flagged offside by an assistant referee.
Allen and Rigg were involved in the opening goal, though, combining well in the 64th minute to set up the opportunity for Kai Nugent who finished confidently with his right foot from 15 yards.
Prescot’s Hare had denied Symington with two outstanding saves and thwarted both Rigg and Nugent with more routine goalkeeping.
But luck was against him for Workington’s second goal twelve minutes from time. He seemed to have Connor Pani’s shot covered but James Devine’s deflection wrong-footed him and the ball found a way into the net.
Reds play their penultimate game of the season at Morpeth Town on Monday and end the campaign against Ashton United at Borough Park on Saturday.
They hope by then to be well clear of the relegation zone.
