Workington Reds might be struggling at senior level but their Under-23s side are hitting the heights.
An 8-1 win at Macclesfield maintained an unbeaten start to the campaign in the Lancashire League as it was their eighth successive victory to increase their lead at the top to nine points.
Josh Palmer, who recently got a five-minute introduction to the first team as a late substitute, pushed his claims again with a hat-trick.
Two of those came in the first-half when Zach Benson-Lester, son of Whitehaven rugby league legend Aaron Lester, was also on target.
The game was played in poor and difficult weather conditions but the young Reds pulled away in the second half with five more goals.
Palmer completed his hat-trick and there were goals for Dan Hill (2) and Joe Carney, while they also benefitted from an own goal.
Macclesfield had been completely out-played but did manage a consolation goal 15 minutes from the end.
Reds: Joe Rumney, Luke Routledge, Callum Bell, Owen Johnston, Louis Pickering, Rob Davidson, Zach Benson-Lester, Leo Brennan, Joe Carney, Dan Hill, Josh Palmer. Substitutes – Elliot Lowrie, Sam Christian (both used).
