Workington Reds 3 Warrington Town 1: It was the Conor Tinnion show as Workington Reds got their league campaign back on track against Warrington Town.

The midfielder put on a masterclass in the second half that blew away the visitors to Borough Park and saw Reds record three valuable points with a 3-1 win.

Tinnion finished the day with two goals to his name and could have had more with several efforts just off target.

Reds had weathered a first half storm by Warrington who probably shaded the earlier stages of the game.

But on an icy cold, windy winter’s afternoon, with rain coming at intervals, Reds’ defence held out for the opening 45 minutes to see the two sides go in level at the break 0-0.

Aaran Taylor made a couple of fine saves to keep his side in contention and give them the opportunity to come back in the second half.

And they did, using the weather slightly more to their advantage, they peppered the Warrington goal at times.

There was some good football on display with Jake Simpson another worthy of mention for his efforts.

Reds had a couple of early opportunities with that man Tinnion showing from the off that he was in-form. He danced round a couple of Warrington defenders but his final shot was just too high.

James Earl, returning from injury, helped hold the team together, alongside Anthony Wright, who started the game after Rob Wilson had to pull out injured in the warm-up.

But the duo commanded respect in the centre of the park and were uncompromising in their efforts to push Workington forward.

One such occasion saw Earl loft a great ball over the top, looking for Scott Allison in the box but the keeper just got in to block the chasing attacker.

But Warrington proved they were not here to make the numbers up and tested the home defence on several occasions, forcing them to stand up and be counted.

Ruben Jerome saw his header go over the crossbar before Michael Monaghan’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection to go out for a corner.

Josh Calvert and Gari Rowntree made a couple of telling tackles to deny Warrington opportunities but you would be mistaken if you thought Reds were just on the defensive.

They took every chance to come back at their visitors on the break with Earl’s early shot going inches wide of the target.

Simpson whipped in a free kick outside the area but the waiting Earl could not get his shot away.

Both sides were trying to assert their dominance on the game and Aaran Taylor was called on to keep his side level.

First he shepherded a Jerome shot across his goal and then he made a great save from Scott Harries who came inside his man and unleashed a shot.

Reds were thankful to the quick-thinking keeper who got his fingertips to the ball and put it out for a corner.

Tinnion was becoming a thorn in the side of Warrington as he won the ball and chased it back down the field to go one-on-one with the keeper but it was former Barrow man Anthony McMillan who wrapped it up.

Rowntree put a great cross in from the left and found the head of Tinnion. The ball looked to be going into the bottom corner but a diving McMillan again put paid to Reds’ hopes.

The game went from end-to-end, the action warming up the frozen supporters on the terraces.

Taylor made a second crucial save when he turned a ball from McCarthy round the posts for a corner.

The final 10 minutes of the half saw Reds begin to step up a gear and although the two teams went in at half time level it was maybe the home side who were slightly happier.

The second half was just minutes old when Reds could have fairly claimed two penalties in as many seconds.

Both Allison and Jack Ryan looked to be brought down in quick succession in the opposition box.

Referee Shane Sugden pointed to the spot and Reds had the chance they had been waiting for. Dave Symington didn’t hesitate, he stepped up and blasted the ball into the back of the net to hand Reds the lead.

Workington were suddenly on the up and on the hunt for a second as Allison stretched to get his boot onto the edge of a corner kick but it went up and over the bar.

Tinnion tried his hand once again, from a free kick out on the right. He whipped it in low but the keeper got down to make a good save.

It was only fair that the young attacker finally struck gold and got his name on the scoresheet moments later. Famed for his left foot, this time Tinnion, out on the left, turned inside and struck a fine shot with his right boot that went across the stranded keeper and into the net.

Sam Joel joined the attack with 20 minutes remaining, replacing Symington and the new signing looked sharp.

A lovely little back heel from Joel gave Tinnion another chance to attack the away goal. This time the defence were on hand but Tinnion is nothing if not tenacious.

He fought to win the ball back only to be brought down just outside the area, winning a free kick. Tinnion lined it up and curled a lovely shot beyond the stretching keeper and into the back of the goal for 3-0.

The only disappointment of the afternoon was that the home side did not manage to keep a clean sheet.

A break from Warrington caught Reds unaware in the 88th minute. Taylor got a hand to Dylan Vassallo’s shot but he could not turn it away and it sneaked in at the corner.

There were some nervy moments when Warrington nearly picked up a second inside injury time.

The visitors found the back of the net but the flag was raised for offside and Reds breathed a sigh of relief.

Despite a couple of late yellow cards for Simpson and Kyle May, they came out of this game on top, with three crucial league points and a boost of confidence going into two tough away league games.

Workington Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Rowntree (May 86), Calvert, Smith, Earl, Symington (Joel 70), Wright, Ryan (Waterston 84), Allison, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Fowler, Douglas.

Goals: Symington pen 53, Tinnion 67, 81.

Yellows cards: Simpson 90, May 94.

Warrington: McMillan, Gumbs, Askew, Ventre (Williams 75), McCarten, Robinson (Vassallo 67), Harries, Smart, Jerome (Hattersley 61), McCarthy, Monaghan. Subs (not used): Carden, Shaw.

Goals: Vassallo 89.

Yellow cards: Williams 77.

Referee: Shane Sugden.

Crowd: 371.