History repeated itself as Workington’s stunning 3-2 victory at Warrington Town completed their great escape and preserved their NPL Premier Division status for another season, at least.
Thirty-one years ago, Workington were in a similar situation at the foot of the table and needed a win at Cantilever Park to stave off yet another relegation threat.
They were two goals down at the break but rallied to win by the odd goal in five and eventually avoided the drop, denying Town promotion at the same time.
The names were different on this occasion but the script was identical.
Reds found themselves two goals in arrears at the break, but fought back to win after an incredible second half and the three priceless points will be enough to rubber-stamp their safety, regardless of the outcome of their final fixture.
They were a goal down after just 62 seconds, when Elliot Morris broke through to score, and looked to be heading for a damaging defeat when Reece Daly deceived Alex Mitchell from a direct free kick to make it two nil.
Kallam Murphy also headed another opportunity against the cross bar so it could have been all over by half time.
Jake Allan started the recovery when he reduced the deficit 10 minutes after the restart.
The Town goalkeeper and a defender both went to clear the ball but got themselves in a tangle leaving Allan to simply walk the ball into the vacant net.
And that proved the turning point in such a crucial fixture.
They restored parity after seventy minutes when Josh Palmer nonchalantly headed home his first league goal for the club following a well-rehearsed free kick routine.
With the bit between their teeth, Reds pressed for the winner and it duly arrived 10 minutes before the end when Tom Stephenson broke through, after outpacing the last defender, before guiding the ball past the helpless Liam Isherwood.
Warrington did mount two or three late attacks but Reds held firm to secure the points and end a worrying season in style.
They can now enjoy the final game at Borough Park next Saturday when Leek Town come to town in front of a hopeful bumper crowd.
It means that the fixture, billed as the last at Borough Park before its redevelopment into the Cumberland Sports Village can be a celebration of the near 90 years the Reds have spent on the ground – rather than a wake.
Stocksbridge drew and are down, and despite a shock win at Gainsborough it looks as though Prescot Cables will also face the drop as they are level on points with Morpeth.
Whitby Town are the only other side now who could be drawn into it but they have three points on the other two and need a point in their final game to be certain of staying up..
The not-so-magnificent seven had also included Hyde United and Rushall Olympic but their wins lifted both out of danger.
Manager Billy Barr, and his staff, deservedly took the plaudits alongside the players after a quite remarkable escape act.
Ten points adrift of safety in January the side grew in confidence, improved their fitness and went on a nine-match unbeaten run. It earned Barr a manager of the month award for February and a near-miss in March.
But since then three games without a win – a draw sandwiched between two defeats – had put the pressure on and they went into the Warrington game a points clear of the bottom three.
If they had lost that game they would have gone into the final fixture with Leek still a point above the drop zone needing a win to be absolutely certain of survival.
Barr said: “It is absolutely fantastic that the players got the job done at Warrington which means everyone associated with the club can enjoy next Saturday and all the memories they have of the ground.”
Hear what Barr had to say below:
