A 3-0 home win over promotion chasing Hednesford Town lifted Billy Barr’s rejuvenated team above the relegation zone for the first time since September.
But a delighted Reds boss reminded us all that the ‘great escape’ still requires a complete focus from everyone.
“I thought the lads were terrific and we are now unbeaten throughout February and March.
“However, the challenge now is to do the same again during a busy April when it really matters,” he said.
He is right to approach the revival with cautious optimism, having spent a life time in the game, but this performance left a warm glow at a bitterly cold Borough Park.
Town arrived in Cumbria in third position, just a point behind the leaders, but this setback will have provided much food for thought for Kelvin Davies and his staff on their routine journey.
They were unlucky not to take an early lead when a Montel Gibson header struck the woodwork but, thereafter, Workington dominated.
And the biggest surprise of the afternoon was not the three-goal winning margin but the three unlikely scorers, with Jake Allan and Keelan Leslie netting at Borough Park for the first time this season and Steven Swinglehurst bagging his second!
The opener came after 16 minutes with Allan calmly guiding the ball past Tony Breeden after Matty Tymon had nodded down Jack Dickinson’s free kick.
And the second goal was similar with Hednesford again guilty of poor defending for a a set-piece routine.
Swinglehurst had time to spare as the ball dropped conveniently and he gleefully lashed it into the net from ten yards.
The expected second half comeback from the promotion hopefuls didn’t materialise and it was lowly Workington who continued to dominate.
Their third of the afternoon came in the 85th minute when Dav Symington fed the ball wide to the overlapping Leslie.
His first touch was good and his second even better as he drove the ball low and firm into the far corner of Breeden’s net.
Tom Stephenson saw a good effort from distance rebound off the cross bar whilst an audacious lob from Tymon saw the back-pedalling Breeden fumble the ball to safety.
A consolation goal eluded Town when Ahkeem Rose’s overhead shot cleared the bar and another late effort drifted the wrong side of the far post.
Injuries to Jack Dickinson and Brad Carroll tarnished a good afternoon’s work but, hopefully, the pair will be ready to resume for the busy Easter weekend with Reds due to face Warrington Rylands (away) and Cleethorpes Town (home) on Saturday and Monday respectively.
Here’s Barr’s thoughts after the game:
