They had to remain patient throughout as chances came and went but, just when it looked as though the hosts had held their higher-ranked opponents, Allison pounced to score an 87th-minute winner.
It concluded a very satisfactory pre-season for Reds summed up by a buoyant David Hewson afterwards.
“We look fit, sharp and hungry and Lee [Andrews] and I are delighted with the way they have trained and played over the last six weeks. The effort and application was evident again today and the way we played in spells was very pleasing," he said after the game.
This was a good all-round performance against a team expected to do well in Evo-Stik First Division North this term. They were solid at the back, competitive in midfield and creative going forward but, most pleasing of all, was maintaining a hold on the game despite the constant tweaking of personnel.
Clitheroe threatened to open the scoring when Sefton Gonzales broke through and released co-striker Kurt Willoughby.
But superb defending from Jamie Mellen blocked the latter’s shot, although the Reds’ defender appeared to be limping thereafter.
Mellen then started a promising counter-attack involving Jack Ryan and Rob Wilson which culminated in a Nathan Waterston shot saved by goalkeeper Dan Eccles’ legs.
Clitheroe’s next attack saw Oliver Crankshaw race clear only for a promising situation to peter out when he dragged his shot wide.
Matty Douglas was next to try his luck in an attacking situation but his firm header, via Anthony Wright’s cross, rebounded off the post with Eccles beaten. Wilson’s goal-bound volley was then blocked by Clitheroe defender, Luke Holden.
And on the stroke of half-time, Wilson floated a free-kick into the area but Wright’s header didn’t have the power to trouble Eccles.
Willoughby tested Taylor with a long-range effort on the hour but the keeper finger-tipped the ball over the bar at the expense of a corner.
Eccles remained the busier of the two keepers and was called upon to keep out a fiercely struck Dave Symington free-kick.
From the subsequent corner, Reds seemed certain to score but Ryan’s effort hit the post and Eccles smothered the ball on the goal line in the scramble which followed.
Eccles then had a lucky escape when his poor clearance fell straight to Ryan’s feet.
The Reds centre-forward attempted to chip the ball into the net but the keeper, well outside his area, handled. As seems to be the norm in pre-season action, the referee showed leniency by not punishing Eccles and Symington was just wide with the resultant free-kick.
Waterston had two weak efforts saved as Reds continued to push for the winner while Allison was way off target with two wayward efforts.
Allison showed more composure when the ball fell to him three minutes from time after Waterston won the knock down. His low shot was sweetly struck past Eccles from 12 yards for the late winner.
There was still time for Clitheroe to mount one last attack which resulted in Gonzales getting on the end of Robbie Bromley’s free kick only to head wide at the far post.
Now for the acid test, Workington have to maintain the winning habit when league points are at stake.
MATCH STATS
Reds: Taylor, Simpson (Holliday, 57), Mellen, Calvert, Douglas, Earl (Waterston, 19), Symington, Wilson (MacDonald, 51), Ryan (Harker, 76), Allison, Wright. Sub not used: Joel Referee: Andy Sykes, Blackpool
Star man: Anthony Wright
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