Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger was delighted to see his team return to the top of the NPL North West Division ahead of what he believes will be a crucial period in their title bid.

Reds leapfrogged Ramsbottom United with a 4-0 win at Droylsden on Tuesday night to move back into the league's top spot for the first time since they were beaten 2-0 by the Rams on January 25.

And Grainger paid tribute to his players for their reaction to dropping away from the place they had held all season, winning all three of their league games since then and keeping clean sheets in each of them.

"I think we've got a big few weeks ahead of us," he said.

"I challenged the boys after the Ramsbottom game to go and put results together and slowly but surely we're getting back to we had been.

"That's three clean sheets on the bounce now and we look solid, we don't look like we're going to give many chances away and that bodes well going into a Cumbrian derby."

Reds travel to second-bottom Kendal Town on Saturday looking to keep their run going but, despite their lowly league position and the fact that they have already been heavily beaten by Workington twice this season, Grainger will not be taking the home side lightly.

He said: "It's going to be a really tough game.

"They've picked up over the last month and I think it will be a lot tougher test than what they showed in the first game.

"We need to make sure that we meet that challenge."

Workington's victory at Droylsden saw the hosts swept aside with two goals in each half on a tricky pitch.

Dav Symington and Scott Allison found the back of the net, with Brad Carroll – not Jordan Little as was originally believed – and new signing Mwiya Malumo completing the scoring in the second half.

Allison in particular earned praise from his performance, not just for his spectacular chip to give Reds a two-goal cushion but also for his all-round play and work for the team to help secure the result.

"Those ones are always a lot harder than strikers make them look," Grainger added.

"When you've got more time to think you don't know what you're going to do with it.

"I think Scotty was again absolutely different class tonight and not just his goal but his link-up play and leading the line.

"I thought he was fantastic and to take his goal the way that he did shows how much confidence he's got at the moment.

"We're delighted for Mwiya.

"He's scored a goal, held the ball up well and he's going to be a great asset for us moving forwards for the rest of the season."