Workington Reds had to swallow a bitter pill as they lost out by two goals at the hands of league leaders Warrington Town at Borough Park.

It was a shame for the home side who had held their own against the promotion hopefuls for much of the game.

Warrington had the first real chance of note as Tony Gray got his head to a cross from Mitchell Duggan out on the right but it went over the bar.

Reds looked to break on the counter and a long ball out to Conor Tinnion found him in space on the right and he put in a cross that found the head of Brad Carroll but it lacked power and went into the arms of the keeper.

The first corner came inside the 17th minute and it reached Josh Calvert who caught it with his foot but it went high over the bar and out of danger.

Jason Walker then looked to try and strike the ball into the top corner but he mishit the chance, and again, it soared away from the target but Reds were looking dangerous.

Reds continued to try and pepper the Warrington goal with several blocked efforts before Town managed to clear their lines and break back upfield.

Warrington broke loose with Jack Mackreth breaking up the right-hand flank and he put a great early cross in and the Workington defenders were haring back towards their own goal. Calvert stuck a boot out and it went flying towards his own goal, forcing a great reaction save out of Aaran Taylor.

Reds won a corner after weathering some pressure in their own goalmouth and the ball was flicked on by Sam Joel, looking for Walker, but the Warrington defence just scrambled back to clear.

Bohan Dixon caused a gasp from the home faithful as he beat his marker to move into the Reds area and let loose with a shot that just went wide of the target.

Dave Symington came to join the action in the 37th minute as Conor limped off the field as Reds were under pressure from their hosts. And a low effort from Mackreth saw another comfortable save from Aaran Taylor in the Workington goal.

Reds came away again with a good ball from Walker finding Joel in space. He couldn't quite beat his man but forced a corner that had to be punched clear by the keeper.

But the final few moments of the first period began to get a little scrappy and Dixon was shown a yellow card for dissent in the dying minutes as both sides had to settle for a 0-0 scoreline at the break.

The game went from end to end in the second half and Symington took his chance at goal from a free-kick but it was cleared long and Reds were caught on the counter, having to race back. And it was a relief when the offside flag went up against the speedy Mackreth.

Then, it was Reds back on the attack and a shot from the edge of the area from Carroll just came off the crossbar and out of play, with gasps from the watching 379-strong crowd.

Workington continued to press and a shot from Walker was saved and cleared for a corner, which was then put out again by Dixon.

Calvert met the next corner with a great bullet header that looked to be heading for the back of the net but for a last ditch nudge from Warrington to put it out.

There was real danger in the Reds goalmouth when a great run from sub Dylan Vassallo got the ball into the path of Joshua Amis as Taylor came flying out. The ball looked to be heading towards the goal but a great overhead clearance from a stretching Calvert helped divert its course and Reds lived to see another day.

A great tackle from skipper Gari Rowntree halted another promising Warrington attack as both sides looked to break the deadlock.

It was sub Vassallo who finally gave his side the lead as his low shot just beat Taylor to put the visitors ahead and Reds then had to try and battle their way back.

Symington again looked to try a shot from the edge of the area but it struck the defender and went out for a corner. That was cleared for a long throw-in which was delivered by Matty Douglas.

But Reds lost the ball and Warrington broke again with some more desperate defence called for before the ball ended in the arms of Taylor despite calls for a handball from the Warrington bench.

And the visitors sealed the game in the 86th minute when Vassallo curled the ball into the goal straight from the corner, a bitter pill for the Workington players to swallow as they lost out 2-0.