Workington Reds 4 Matlock Town 1: Workington Reds will take the play-off race to the final day of the season after a strong 4-1 victory over Matlock Town.

Scott Allison scored all four goals in the clash, including a penalty, to keep them in contention right to the end.

Reds knew what was required of them before kick off and they certainly delivered.

They took a while to get into their stride in both halves but once they were in full flow they were a force to be reckoned with.

Keeper Alex Mitchell made a couple of great saves to keep his side in the clash, with Kyle May and Josh Calvert strong in defence.

In the early stages Allison was impeded just outside the box as he looked to make his presence felt in the area and won a free kick with the Matlock player receiving a yellow card for his efforts.

Conor Tinnion then thumped the ball in but the keeper was on form to punch it away.

Matlock broke down to the opposite end of the field where Kyle May was called upon to halt the run.

And Joe McGee and Tinnion both saw shots go wide of the target as Reds tried to find their way past the Matlock defence.

As Matlock broke away they looked dangerous. Jason Paling made a good run down the right hand flank and put in a good cross but it was lifted just above the crossbar.

Matlock provided another worrying moment as Joel Purkiss was put through on goal but Reds were saved by the offside flag.

Reds were awarded a free-kick which McGee took quickly looking for the Workington attackers but in the end it was an easy ball for the keeper.

Nearing the half hour mark, Reds had been struggling to find the final ball that would cause any damage.

Then they seem to lift as an Arnison cross was closed out by Matlock. The ball was whipped back in and keeper George Willis was called on again to clear.

Tinnion then put McGee through on a great run as he bore down on the keeper. He slightly delayed his final ball and the keeper managed to put it out for a corner.

But McGee took the corner quickly and Allison rose up to meet the ball and headed it into the goal to hand Workington the lead on 33 minutes.

Another good move for Reds as McGee released Jake Simpson out on the right and he put in a nice cross for Arnison but the striker couldn’t connect and the ball went behind for a goal kick.

Reds made it 2-0 on 38 minutes as Allison hammered a shot home from just inside the area.

But Matlock pulled one back just minutes later as Charlie Dawes produced a good finish to slot the ball into the net leaving keeper Alex Mitchell no chance.

And they nearly equalised as Purkiss was through on goal and hit the shot but Mitchell stood tall and blocked to keep his side in the lead.

Tinnion was brought down in the area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Allison stepped up to take the shot and hammered it into the back of the net to collect his hat-trick and make it 3-1 going into half-time.

Matlock come out in the second half looking sharp and they had a good chance to get back into the game when the ball fell to Purkiss in the area but he did not connect well, much to the relief of the Reds defence.

The ball then went into the Workington net as Jordan Ball got the final touch but the linesman already had the flag up for offside.

Reds’ first real chance of the half came on 64 minutes when Connor Hammell played the ball into the path of McGee with just the goal keeper to beat.

He couldn’t quite get the touch to chip the keeper and in the end Willis was able to wrap it up.

Mitchell made another crucial save as he again stood up to the on-rushing Purkiss to stop his shot.

Then, as the half began to pick up pace, Matty Tymon, on for Arnison, tried a power shot from outside the area but it was just too high of the target.

Robbie Hebson, on for Hammell, was fouled just outside the area but again the Matlock keeper was on top of the cross to clear the danger.

Some indecision in defence between Mitchell and May allowed Jack Siddall to get in an opportunistic shot from wide out but thankfully Reds survived once again.

A fantastic run from Jake Simpson led to Reds’ fourth goal. He curled the ball in from the right and Allison battled for the loose ball and managed to poke it home for 4-1.

Reds can now look ahead to Saturday knowing they still stand a chance to get something out of the season.

Workington Reds: Mitchell, Simpson, Smith, May (Bethwaite 84), Calvert, Wilson, McGee, Hammell (Hebson 68), Allison, Arnison (Tymon 63), Tinnion. Subs(not used): Studholme, Jamieson.

Goals: Allison 33, 38, 43, 88

Matlock: Willis, Paling, Algar (McManus 44), Cribley, Yates, Harcourt, Ball, Needham, Purkiss, Holland (Siddall 57), Dawes. Subs (not used): Gaughan, Bartle, Hume.

Goals: Dawes 40,

Yellow cards: Yates, Algar, Paling, McManus

Referee: P Hodgkinson.

Crowd: 394.