Workington stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a third successive victory.

It wasn’t pretty but Workington got there in the end and, for the second game in a row, Dave Symington was the match winner.

Although Phil Priestley saved his penalty, the rebound was hammered into the net by Symington.

Josh Calvert, a precautionary absentee on Saturday, came in for Kyle May who had work commitments.

Skem included former Workington full-back Walter Fernandez and he was soon in action clearing a clever through ball from Scott Allison.

But it was the hosts who forced the early running and Fernandez got forward well to clip the ball back, only for Calvert to turn behind for a corner, which was cleared.

Then, Accrington loanee Luke Wall got away and, when he pulled the ball back to Tom Ince, his fierce shot was blocked by Jake Simpson.

The best opportunity fell to Chris Almond on a Skem breakout and after cutting in past Aaran Taylor, he saw his shot kicked off the line by Phil McLuckie.

Reds were sporadic going forward but when they engineered an opening they were awarded a free-kick out wide in the left-hand corner.

Simpson’s low ball was held by veteran keeper, 41-year-old Phil Priestley, the Southport goalkeeping coach.

He had been brought in when regular keeper Martin Fearon failed a fitness test over a wrist problem.

Skem had looked lively but it was Workington who took the lead on 23 minutes from their first corner.

Sam Smith was pushed as he went up for a header and Reds were awarded a penalty.

Dave Symington hammered it down the middle but veteran Priestley saved with his feet. Fortunately, Symington was able to follow up and drive the ball home.

But there was a blow two minutes later when Calvert was forced off with a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

Nathan Waterston came on in midfield with Symington dropping to full-back and Smith across to centre-back.

Reds thought they had another penalty when McLuckie went racing into the box to get on the end of an Allison flick but went headlong over the keeper’s outstretched arms.

But the referee was taking note of a raised flag for offside when he blew his whistle.

Reds had settled now after a slow sart and Joe McGee was almost in when he tried to get on the end of a Conor Tinnion pass but Priestley got there first.

But there was almost trouble when Smith tried to allow a through ball to go on to Taylor and Almond almost got in before Symington got across to tidy up.

On 38 minutes, Reds should have scored again.

Simpson curled in a lovely free-kick, which was just asking to be headed in but three Workington players all missed it.

Tinnion was booked on the stroke of half-time for a wild tackle and, from the free-kick, Skem almost scored.

Bento Lowe got to the by-line, pulled the ball right across the face of goal without anyone able to get a touch.

Reds forced two quick corners on the restart but couldn’t capitalise.

They nearly did, though, from a quick breakout.

McGee and Earl found Tinnion free on the left and he unleashed a terrific shot, which Priestley did well to punch clear.

Reds then produced a fine flowing move, which split open the home defence but Allison dwelt on the ball and the opportunity was lost.

It was virtually all Reds now and when Tinnion tried his luck from 30 yards the ball hit the bottom of the post and rolled right across goal with Priestley flat-footed.

Then, McGee cut in from the right and a fierce shot went wide, although Allison wasn’t far away as he dived forward.

Kem hadn’t reproduced the lively football they had shown in the first quarter of the game but they did get forward to win a corner, which was cleared.

McGee was booked when he took a through ball from Tinnion and went on after offside had been given to lift the ball over the keeper – but past the post.

On 64 minutes, Rob Wilson came on for Earl after he had taken a knock.

When Skem broke, the ball was played wide to Wall and his first time ball was headed straight at Taylor by Almond.

Skem made their first change on 67 minutes with Ben Hodgkinson replacing Tom Ince.

Workington had a chance from a corner but no-one could get a head on the flag kick.

However, from the clearance, Symington hit a screamer from 30 yards which flew just over the bar.

Workington made their final change after 77 minutes when Tom Kilifin replaced McGee.

Skem went close on 80 minutes when a good ball in from the right was headed over by Almond.

Waterston had a chance to seal it for Reds when Kiliin put him clear but he dragged his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

Skem had a corner in the first minute of time added but McIntosh headed onto the roof of the net.

But Workington broke back and the hard-working Allison, who had been outstanding, won a corner.

That was defended well enough but at the expense of another corner, which came to nothing.

SKELMERSDALE: Priestley, Fernandez, Holden, McIntoh, Brodie, Strickland, Lowe (Burns 84), Woolcott, Almond, Wall, Ince (Hodgkinson 67). Sus (not used) Rowlands, Wright, Mooney.

WORKINGTON: Taylor, Simpson, Smith, Calvert (Waterston 25), Douglas, Earl (Wilson 64), Symington, McLuckie, Allison, McGee (Kilifin 77), Tinnion. Subs (not used) Hebson, Henderson.

REFEREE: Richard Holmes, Preston

ATTENDANCE: 210