Knaresborough 1 Workington Reds 4

Workington carefully avoided a potential banana skin and produced a big finish to ease into today’s FA Cup third qualifying round draw.

Their two victories in the FA Cup this year have netted them £15,000 – invaluable income to a club at their level – and there is the tantalising prospect of doubling that with a win in the next round.

It wasn’t a free-flowing contest for the purists as the victory had to be earned, with the hosts still potentially in it until a late burst of scoring carried Reds well clear.

Reds, who were collecting their first win of the season on opposition territory, had looked solid throughout and the one disappointment was that they conceded two minutes from time.

Ben Cohen, a small, tricky winger introduced at half-time, attempted to curl a free-kick from the edge of the box round the wall, but it struck a defender and was deflected agonisingly wide of Aaron Taylor into the bottom corner.

It was some consolation for a Knaresborough side who never looked like repeating their seven-goal romp against Kendal Town two weeks ago but were enjoying their appearance in the second qualifying round for the first time.

The hosts, in fact, had created the first chance of the game on six minutes when Brad Walker had a shot from inside the area turned away by Taylor.

But they never seriously got a sight of the Workington goal until the 43rd minute when full-back Dan Thirkell fired high over the bar from a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Workington had taken 10 minutes to find some rhythm but, when they gradually started to dominate, the crucial first goal came early and there were opportunities to add to that advantage.

The opener came on 15 minutes and saw Jordan Holt’s ball into the box find Conor Tinnion moving in from the left and he beat John Rushworth with a sweet low drive.

Rushworth then earned his money with a fine block to deny Holt; an acrobatic tip over from Dan Wordsworth’s close-range effort and a take at the second attempt after Brad Hubbold had forced one in from 25 yards.

As in the first half, Knaresborough had their best moment early on and the introduction of the lively Cohen seemed to have provided them with a potent threat down the left.

But Taylor made a brave interception to a dangerous low cross, diving into a forest of legs and the admirable Wordsworth made an important block when Cohen showed good feet again to get to the byline.

Once again, Reds worked hard to contain the best the opposition could throw at them and gradually got themselves back on top.

The excellent Hubbold had a goal chalked-off for a foul on the keeper and, soon after, the all-important second goal arrived on 68 minutes. Tinnion tricked his way down the left and fired in a low cross which was expertly tucked home by Scott Allison.

From that moment, there was never any doubt as to who was going to collect the winner’s cheque and Reds extended their lead on 78 minutes.

Substitute Niall Cowperthwaite hoisted a free-kick from halfway into the box and Jason Walker climbed above everyone to head into the top corner.

Five minutes from the end, another Cowperthwaite free-kick set-up the fourth.

This one was more drilled in, rather than floated, but fellow sub Sam Joel was on the end of it to head beyond Rushworth for a well-taken goal.

A clean sheet would have completed an excellent day’s work for the Cumbrians but that was spoiled two minutes from time by Cohen’s deflected free-kick.

Match Facts

Knaresborough: Rushworth, Thirkell (Bromley 70), Kidd, Parkes (Donohue 36), Anderson, Lenehan, Youhill, Worrell, Black, Walker, Garbutt (Cohen 45). Subs (not used): Corbett, Cook, Donnelly, Carlton.

Goal: Cohen (88)

Workington: Tylor, Olsen (Cowperthwaite 72), Rowntree, Wordsworth, Douglas, Mellen, Holt, Hubbold, Walker, Allison (Maguire 82), Tinnion (Joel 77). Subs (not used): Brown, Tidy, Mossop.

Goals: Tinnion (15), Allison (68), Walker (78), Joel (85).

Referee: Daniel Locker

Crowd: 507

Star Man: Dan Wordsworth