A youthful Workington Reds side moved past Marine in the second round of Integro League Cup tonight.

Two goals from the boot of Nathan Waterston proved the difference in the end, over a battling Marine outfit.

Workington had made several changes from the side that lost out at Rushall over the weekend.

Reds have a busy week with a Cumberland Cup tie still looming on Thursday and have made no bones about the fact that the league has to be their priority.

So they mixed up the side with a smattering of experience and plenty of youth with Phil McLuckie captaining the side.

In the absence of manager Lee Andrews, Gari Rowntree took over the reins on the sidelines.

And the youngsters were certainly not looking out of place in the early stages, with Ben MacDonald, Tommy Whitehead, Jamie Mellen and keeper Tom Fowler all starting the game.

But it was a good start for the home side. Just inside the 10th minute of play, Workington did well to get the ball into the box and Nathan Waterston turned to shoot but the keeper just got a hand to the ball and it went into the side netting.

But just moments later Jamie Mellen played the ball into Waterston, again in the area and he chested it down and poked a low ball home past the keeper and into the back of the net to put his side ahead.

Reds were moving the ball about well and restricting their opponents to the odd break but they still looked dangerous on occasion.

But the home side looked intent on extending their advantage and Mellen put a near identical ball in to the one that helped Waterston to his goal.

This time it was looking for the outstretched foot of Tommy Whitehead but the youngster couldn't quite get there in time and the keeper gathered.

Jordan Holt took on the Marine defence and danced his way through before bringing in Sam Joel and Waterston but the latter was crowded off the ball and Marine broke back.

Joel did well bringing the ball out to the left before putting in a low cross, aimed for Whitehead but his first touch wasn't the best and Marine could clear.

Then, at the opposite end of the field Reds had to defend a free kick in a dangerous position. It was put out for a corner but this time Fowler gathered and steadied any nerves.

In the end the two sides finished at half time with Reds still holding that one goal lead.

The second half was only moments old when Fowler was called into action to make a close range save from the onrushing Michael Monaghan.

But Reds were right back on the attack and a shot from Waterston was deflected out for a corner.

Rob Wilson whipped in long and Matty Douglas rose up, as he has so many times this season, but this time his header was just wide of the target.

Sam Joel had an effort cleared off the line as Reds looked to keep on pressing.

But, into the 58th minute and Reds had Fowler to thank for keeping their one goal cushion as he made a crucial stop with his foot after a powerful shot from McGrath.

Marine began to up their play and they were soon level as a rifle shot from Monaghan hit the bar and Dominic Reid was quick to react to poke it home.

Waterston tried to restore the advantage but his shot went high over the bar.

Then Monaghan had a superb opportunity to give his side the lead when he went clear on goal with just Fowler to beat but he also shot over the bar.

On the break, Waterston was put through clear down the centre, his initial shot was parried by the keeper but he was quick to put the rebound away.

This lifted the home side and they bore back down on the goal but this time Wilson's shot was high into the crowd.

Marine sub William Smart tried to get his side back on level terms as he tried a late shot in the last minute of normal time, but Fowler again stuck a foot out to save his side's blushes.

Then Reds tried to extend their lead as Whitehead got the ball into the path of Joel and he took off goalwards but just managed to roll the ball past the target.

But in the end the one goal advantage proved enough as Reds moved on.

Reds: Fowler, McLuckie (Hetherington 45), Mellen, Douglas, Smith (Harker 77), Wilson, Whitehead, MacDonald (Pattinson 55), Waterston, Holt, Joel. Subs (not used): Holliday, Mossop.

Goals: Waterston 11, 80

Yellow cards: Holt 90

Marine: Fearon, Tongue (Wylie 61), Razavet, Hughes, Strickland, Griffiths, Duke, Donaldson, Watson (Reid 57), Monaghan (Smart 88), McGrath. Subs (not used): Short, Mendes.

Goals: Reid 71

Yellow cards: Wylie 63,

Half time: 1-0.

Referee: R Holmes.

Crowd: 163.