Recent Cumberland Cup clashes between the neighbouring clubs have been closely-contested affairs but not on this occasion as Reds strolled through to the next round after emerging 8-1 winners.
Both teams went into this derby encounter without a permanent manager but whilst Reds had the experienced Brian Dawson and Billy Redden at the helm, troubled Whitehaven had to rely on Matty Branthwaite to cobble together a side.
Workington were able to rest four regulars, give game time to those that haven’t featured recently, include promising youngsters Harrison Telford, Joe Carney, Josh Palmer and Alfie McDonough yet, even so, still proved too strong for the West Lancashire League outfit.
Branthwaite was able to call on the seven remaining regulars with the rest of his squad made up from promising youngsters still finding their feet in senior football.
And the makeshift team couldn’t handle Reds’ senior players, Steven Rigg and David Symington, who enjoyed a night of target practice.
Skipper Symington started and finished the goalscoring and bagged a personal haul of four, Rigg helped himself to a couple with the tally completed by two own-goals.
Six goals in arrears by half time, Whitehaven showed plenty of character in the second half and grabbed their consolation goal to make it 7-1.
A well-worked free kick saw Aidan Smith release Joe Martin and he kept his composure to steer the ball home, producing the loudest cheer of the night.
Workington travel to Stocksbridge Park Steels for an important NPL match on Saturday while Whitehaven host Milnthorpe at home, although neither side will have a new manager in place by then.
