Workington Reds were not celebrating the start to 2018 as their 17-game unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Whitby Town during a 3-1 defeat.

Reds started the day off in second place and were looking to keep their superb record going against a side who were without a win in 16 before the game.

And, at half-time, the home side looked to be cruising, dominating possession and with a one-goal lead.

But, in a true game of two halves, Whitby came out a different side in the second period and began to expose Workington at the back.

Junior Mondal proved elusive for the visitors, with Whitby utilising the long ball and using Mondal's pace to get in behind the defence on several occasions.

Reds had spells where they tried to counter but could not reproduce the form of the first half and, once Whitby got their first goal, their confidence soared and they went on to add two more for a 3-1 win.

The match was played in sticky conditions due to the heavy rainfall before kick-off, but Workington looked the better side for the majority of the first half.

Reds looked dangerous on the attack and they restricted their visitors to the odd chance on the break.

The home side began well when a low free-kick from Dave Symington got right into a crowded penalty area but the referee adjudged the ball to have come off the boot of a Reds player and out for a goal kick, despite the home calls for a corner.

Then, Gari Rowntree came in and had a shot of his own from long range. It took a slight deflection but the visiting keeper Ryan Whitley was waiting for the ball.

McLuckie won a free-kick just on the edge of the area and Symington stood over it ready. He drove it in well over the wall but it just went inches over the top of the crossbar.

Another free-kick, this time out on the left-hand side, caused more consternation for the Whitby defence. Symington whipped in the ball but, despite their best efforts, nobody could get the final touch and the keeper gathered at the second attempt.

Whitby took advantage and raced to the opposite end of the field where Junior Mondal had possibly the best chance so far but he ballooned the ball over the bar from close range.

Reds responded by upping the ante and Nathan Waterston picked up the pace down the left-hand side. He came in and attempted a shot which was blocked.

But McLuckie kept the ball alive and it came back out to Anthony Wright who hit a low drive but it went straight into the arms of the keeper.

All the pressure finally paid off in the 26th minute for Reds when a good ball from Symington found Waterston bearing down on the keeper.

He took him on and blasted the ball past him into the back of the net to give Reds the lead.

A great run from Wright saw him come into the area and beat his man before seeing his shot blocked to go out for a corner which was just too long.

Reds were well on top by this point and Symington fancied his chances when he raced forward and drove a shot goalwards, but the Whitby keeper stood firm.

Waterston looked to be in the clear once again but, much to the despair of the crowd, the linesman gave a contentious offside decision to halt the youngster in his tracks.

A late challenge from Rowntree in the Whitby area earned the Reds skipper a yellow card but this was the only real downside for the home team in the opening 45 minutes.

Whitby had a late chance with Lewis Maloney taking a free-kick out on the right-hand side but it was well cleared by Wright and Reds saw out the half with a one-goal lead.

Whitby came out in the second half determined to try and get back into a game that they had virtually been played out of in the first half.

And the best early chance fell to former Workington man Matty Tymon whose shot had Aaran Taylor diving in the Reds goal, only to see the shot whistle narrowly past the post.

The calm head of Josh Calvert was called on moments later to halt another Whitby charge as the defender brought the ball back out of his goal area to clear.

Reds came back at them when McLuckie played a great ball in to find Wright in the area, his effort blocked, going out for a corner.

It was eventually cleared and Whitby came out on the break, a lovely ball being played into Mondal. Taylor did well to stand up and block the initial shot and then scoop up the ball.

But moments later the scores were level as Reds were broken open again at the back and James Fairley got past the defender and trickled his shot just past the oncoming Taylor and into the back of the net before the chasing defenders could get back.

Reds tried to strike back immediately as Symington put in a great cross that met the head of Waterston but he directed it just wide of the target.

And, as play shot from end to end, Taylor had to get down well to stop a Tymon effort.

A cross-field ball found Symington in space out on the left edge and again he delivered the cross. This time, he found the boot of Scott Allison in the area but again the final shot was wide.

Waterston showed off his pace and talent as he skipped in between two defenders and rifled off a shot that again went agonisingly wide of the post as Reds looked to regain their advantage.

But the pace of Mondal caught Reds out again down the right-hand side and the defence had to cover quickly to get the ball out for a corner. But Symington managed to get this away and clear.

Fittingly for Whitby, it was Mondal that changed the game for them as yet again the ball found him over the top and he managed to both hold off Wordsworth and Taylor and squeeze in a shot from a very tight angle that rocketed into the corner of the net.

Reds, knowing the game was starting to pull away from them, made some changes with Sam Joel coming on for Rowntree to provide more fire power.

And it nearly paid off as Waterston got a lovely return ball from Joel and his shot got past the keeper but was cleared off the line by a Whitby defender.

However, the final word was set to go to the visitors on a disastrous afternoon for Workington as they were caught out yet again.

It was all over bar the shouting when Fairley beat Taylor and looked to slot the goal into the back of the net when he was pulled down by Calvert.

The referee pointed to the spot and Calvert was handed a yellow card. But the real damage was done when Lewis Maloney stepped up and slotted the ball home from the spot to take the score out to 3-1 for Whitby.

Reds: Taylor, Douglas, Rowntree (Joel 75), Wordsworth, Calvert, Wright, Symington, Wilson (Earl 82), Allison, Waterston, McLuckie. Subs (not used): Mellen, Holliday, Fowler.

Goals: Waterston 26.

Yellow cards: Rowntree 41, Calvert 90.

Whitby: Whitley, Weledji, Monkhouse, Burgess, May, Tymon (Poole 87), Snaith, Maloney, Salkeld, Fairley, Mondal (Hume 82). Subs (not used): Fryatt, Anderson, Dixon.

Goals: Fairley 59, Mondal 78, Maloney 90 (pen).

Referee: John Mulligan.

Half time: 1-0.

Crowd: 520.