Loanee Millenic Alli marked his Workington debut with a goal and Nathan Waterston took his tally for the season to nine with a brace as Reds inched past Windscale in the Cumberland Cup in front of 120 supporters at Borough Park.

Manager Danny Grainger named a much-changed side as he had in the previous round’s 7-0 win against Moor Row, handing starts to Lewis Casson, Aidan Howarth, Matty Hartley, Harry Atkinson, Sam Smith, Luke Ivison, Robbie Hebson, Brad Hubbold, Charlie Bowman, Waterston and Alli, with Scott Williamson, Owen Durham, Charlie Johnston, Cam Harker and Jim Atkinson on the bench.

It was Casson who had the first notable contribution for Reds in just the sixth minute when Windscale were awarded a penalty.

The goalkeeper saved Matthew Sempill’s initial effort before springing back into action to prevent him from scoring from the rebound.

Waterston opened the scoring 10 minutes later when he collected a loose ball and clipped his shot over the approaching goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

But Windscale were level at the break after Matthew Metcalf capitalised on a goalkeeping error to equalise for the visitors.

Reds gave themselves some breathing space in the second half as Alli put them back in front with a well-taken goal in the 53rd minute before Waterston scored his second after rounding the goalkeeper.

Windscale put the pressure on when they pulled a goal back through Sempill in the 89th minute.

Casson, who had been Reds’ hero in the opening stages with his penalty save, turned villain when he was sent off in added time but again Windscale couldn’t score from the spot as Owen Woodburn ballooned his shot over the bar.