Workington lifted themselves off the foot of the NPL Premier Division table with an important 2-0 home win over their relegation-threatened rivals, Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Two second half goals secured three precious points as Reds leapfrogged the Sheffield outfit in what is becoming a congested relegation zone.
Reds are one of three clubs on 33 points above Steels (31) with Prescot Cables (34) and Rushall Olympic (37) just above the bottom four.
Workington were second best during the opening 20 minutes and looked rather nervous, in contrast to Stocksbridge who made a confident start.
Marcus Etherington ventured forward on two occasions but was thwarted by Alex Mitchell both times. And the visitors had the ball in the net soon after only to be denied by the intervention of an assistant referee’s flag.
Dan Hopper saw an early shot saved at the other end by Ben Townsend and Jack Dickinson’s powerful downward header was cleared off the line by the versatile Etherington.
Just before the interval, Reds were awarded a penalty when Luke Hunter’s cross struck Connor Smythe’s raised arm.
Hunter took the spot-kick himself but Townsend dived to his left and smothered the ball.
The Cumbrians broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart with Dickinson driving the ball home through a crowded area after Steels failed to clear a corner.
Luke Ellis could have increased the lead but his goal-bound shot was deflected to safety by Townsend’s outstretched leg.
But that second goal did come, albeit late in the day, to secure a crucial victory.
Ceiran Casson sliced open the Steels defence with the perfect pass and Hunter made amends for his first half blunder with a sublime finish in the 90th minute.
Billy Barr’s side, now unbeaten in seven, travel to Hyde United on Saturday for yet another ‘six-pointer’!
Hear Barr’s view of the match below:
