Workington Reds set up a Christmas cracker with Nantwich Town when they ended their three-match losing sequence at Corby.

A 3-1 victory completed a quick double over the struggling Steelmen and kept the Cumbrians on the fringes of the play-offs.

They host Nantwich on Boxing Day (3pm) with the Cheshire side a point in front of them in the Evo Stik Northern Premier table and both sides within touching distance of the play-offs.

Joint Reds boss Dave Hewson, delighted to have ended Reds losing run, said: “We needed to end that sequence and the boys have worked really hard to make sure we got there in the end.

“I think it’s fair to say that it wasn’t pretty and Corby gave us some anxious moments at times but we stuck at it and kept going so well to win the game with those two late goals.

“I think it showed the spirit that is in the team. We have all been hurt by the three successive defeats and wanted desperately to get back to winning ways ahead of the Christmas-New Year period.

“We have got that win and now we can really look forward to the big games we have coming up. We are still very much in the mix and looking forward to moving up the table.”

Reds, who had lost to Stourbridge, Hednesford and Coalville in successive games, have four of the next five games at Borough Park and three of the matches are against teams above them in the table.

After Boxing Day’s home clash with Nantwich, Reds go to Blyth Spartans on Monday, January 2; they host current leaders Rushall Olympic on January 7; entertain Clitheroe in the League Cup on Tuesday, January 10 and have Mickleover Sports as visitors on January 14.

Nathan Waterston, who was away on a family break at the weekend, will be back for Boxing Day but main injury concern Sam Smith will need longer to recover from an ankle problem.

Joe McGee, who was Workington’s best player at Corby on Saturday, went down late-on after taking a knock but was able to play a part in Reds’ third goal.

“It was actually from something he had picked up earlier in the game but we fully expect Joe to be ready and raring to go on Boxing Day,” said Hewson.