Warrington 1 Workington Reds 2: Another excellent away performance from the Reds has helped ease the pain of successive home defeats to Matlock Town.

For while Matlock were unable to go any further in their next FA Cup hurdle at Altrincham, Reds were gaining the compensation of three valuable league points at Cantilever Park.

Indeed two very good, contrasting displays on the road have been important pick-me-ups after it all went wrong in two battles with the Gladiators.

At Whitby in midweek, Reds produced some silky, passing football in a smooth, eye-catching performance, which was worth more than a point against a side sitting in a promotion play-off place.

Warrington were sitting just outside the play-offs but offered a different kind of challenge which needed a more earthy, sleeves rolled-up approach from the west Cumbrians.

So, while Conor Tinnion’s ball-playing skills and measured passing inspired Reds on the east coast, it was more Rob Wilson’s honest endeavour which epitomised the winning effort in rugby league country.

Reds always looked the better side and could have been well clear before Michael Grogan gave Warrington late hope with a 78th minute goal, which left the visitors with an uncomfortable closing spell to get through.

Despite some unnecessary free-kicks given away and some testing balls into the box, Workington deservedly survived and now have two successive home games, in which, they will want to make amends in front of their own fans for the Matlock disasters.

They might be without Joe McGee for both as the industrious midfielder was taken off after 55 minutes with a dislocated elbow which needed another hospital follow up yesterday at a fracture clinic.

McGee had Reds' best chance early on after an excellent move down the right involving Nathan Waterston, Wilson and Scott Allison but his shot lacked the power to seriously trouble keeper Jon Worsnop.

But it was the right-wing route, which did set up the opening goal on 31 minutes.

This time, it was Jake Simpson who got forward to supply a lovely, deep cross which found out the Warrington defence.

Elliot Newby, the smallest player in the box, timed his run perfectly to dive forward and head beyond Worsnop into the bottom corner.

Warrington had not looked remotely dangerous up to that point but did have two opportunities before half-time.

Tom Peers headed wide from a good position and Steven Gillespie had a chance from 15 yards but shot straight at Aaran Taylor.

Reds could have doubled their lead early in the second half.

Hard-working Waterston got round the keeper but, in doing so, was forced wide and from an acute angle he drove his shot over the top.

There was a scare for Reds on 52 minutes when Taylor had to scramble to prevent a Simpson back-header going behind for a corner.

His lower body was behind the byline while he stretched out to hold the ball in play.

Scott Metcalfe kicked the ball out of his hands and, when it ran loose, tapped into an unguarded net to claim an equaliser.

For a few seconds, it didn’t look as though referee Sam Mulhall knew what to do and there was a concern he would allow the goal to stand.

But he went over to consult with an assistant who had been right up with play and he confirmed that the ball had been kicked out of Taylor’s hands and the ‘goal’ could not stand.

Immediately, Reds lost McGee and his replacement Robbie Hebson could have scored with virtually his first kick.

Put through, he tried to steer the ball past Worsnop but he just got a touch to deflect it for a corner.

There was some relief for Reds when they did double their lead on 68 minutes.

Allison, weaving his way into the box, was clearly upended by John Shaw and Dave Symington thumped the penalty past Worsnop.

Hebson had another chance to seal it for Reds before Warrington grabbed what could have been a lifeline.

A free-kick into the Reds box on 78 minutes was cleared but when it came back in Grogan tried an optimistic overhead kick, which seemed to take an age to balloon over Taylor and two of his defenders before dropping in just below the bar.

It set up a tension-filled finale, for which there should have been no need, but Reds saw it through without any serious alarms.

Warrington: Worsnop, Wylie, Nicholas, Lenighan, McCarten, Shaw, Gillespie (Harries 60), Grogan Kilheeney, Peers, Metcalfe. Subs (not used) O’Donnell, Smart, Platt, Wills.

Workington Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Symington, May, Smith, Wilson, Allison, McGee (Hebson 55), Waterston (Henderson 89), Newby, Tinnion. Subs (not used) Douglas, Bethwaite, Carter.

Referee: Sam Mulhall

Attendance: 346