Workington Reds 5, Altrincham 2

A hat-trick from Scott Allison aided Workington Reds to just their second win of the season at home over Altrincham last night.

The visitors played all the second half with just 10 men after they lost Max Harrop to a red card for a foul on Anthony Wright

But it was an action-packed game that had a bit of everything despite the torrential rain that regularly increased in frequency throughout.

There was still plenty of good football on show from both sides but Reds will be relieved and delighted to get the three points in the bag.

Reds proved that they can be extremely clinical in front of goal and this time they put their chances away.

Just before the quarter of an hour mark Reds began to show what they can do. First Dave Symington took on the defence before turning a curling a shot that just tipped over the bar.

Then a shot from Conor Tinnion took a deflection into the path of James Earl whose cross-come-shot again just missed the target.

Reds had been on top for the majority of the early exchanges but Altrincham looked dangerous on occasion.

And John Johnston unleashed a shot nearing the 20-minute mark that would have caused problems had it not gone wide of the mark.

Then the visitors got a free kick just outside the area which Joshua Hancock stepped up to take but he blasted it over the bar.

But into the 24th minute and it was Reds who took the lead. Sam Joel saw his shot come back off a defender but it only went as far as Scott Allison who thumped the ball home to score in spectacular fashion.

Josh Calvert was called on to step in and make a crucial block as Altrincham looked to level the scores and Reds had to scramble to clear the resulting corner.

But the visitors were not finished and Max Harrop stepped inside the defence and unleashed another superb shot which shot past Aaran Taylor and into the Workington goal to make it 1-1.

James Earl earned himself a yellow card for a challenge just after the half hour mark as Altrincham looked to up the pressure on their hosts.

It was getting increasingly lively with both sides causing problems in worsening conditions at Borough Park.

A shot from Jake Simpson was blocked by the Altrincham keeper Tim Deasy but in the rain, it slipped from his grasp and went out for a corner.

The ball was swept into the goalmouth but in the scramble, Calvert was hauled down and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

Up stepped Conor Tinnion and he put an end to Reds' poor run of spot kicks as he sent the keeper the wrong way and slid the ball into the back of the net.

Then a bad tackle from goalscorer Harrop on Anthony Wright saw Altrincham reduced to 10 men as the referee showed a red card with just three minutes of the half remaining.

Into the second half and Reds had an early chance when Jordan Holt played a nice wide ball to Allison who found Earl on the edge of the box but his shot went over the top.

A great run from Sam Joel forced a save from Deasy in the visiting goal, the ball came loose but the away side managed to clear.

And they went on the attack themselves racing up to the opposite end of the field where Josh Hancock's effort just trickled wide.

Into the 63rd minute and Joel had another shot at goal which was saved by the keeper.

Then a mistake from the usually reliable Dan Wordsworth saw the ball skim into the path of Jordan Hulme. He just had the keeper to beat and despite Taylor coming out to narrow the angle of the shot, Hulme slid the ball past the keeper and into the net to level.

But Reds had the perfect answer as Tinnion took on the defence and brought the ball to the edge of the box where he lofted the ball over the visiting defence and left Allison with an easy ball to poke home from close range to take the lead back.

Workington saw some daylight in the scoreline when Sam Joel was played in by Scott Allison and he slotted home past the keeper.

Tinnion tried to extend the lead further when he looked to turn and shoot but it went narrowly over the bar.

Joel was on the hunt in the box when he was brought down and the referee pointed to the spot for the second time.

And with five minutes remaining, Tinnion stepped up looking for his second but this time Deasy went the right way and got a hand to the ball.

But that man Allison was there again to slot home the rebound for his hat-trick and put Reds in the clear at 5-2.

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Symington, Wordsworth, Calvert, Wright, Earl, Holt (Smith 58), Allison, Joel, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Ryan, Douglas, Mellen, Fowler.

Goals: Allison 24, 68, 85, Tinnion (pen) 39, Joel 76.

Yellow cards: Earl 32, Wordsworth 81.

Altrincham: Deasy, Bembo-Leta, Densmore (Short 55), Hannigan, Harrison, Moult, Johnston, Sheridan, Hulme, Hancock (Peers 75), Harrop. Subs (not used): Jones, Poole, Thompson.

Goals: Harrop 29, Hulme 65.

Yellow cards: Densmore 37.

Reds card: Harrop 42.

Half time: 2-1.

Referee: S Sugden.

Crowd: 339.