It’s been an uncomfortable three weeks for Workington Reds, with defeats in a crunch league game and an FA Trophy tie, and a fortunate home win sandwiched between.

So it was with some trepidation that the squad travelled to the Midlands without four key players and set to test themselves on an artificial G3 pitch.

But there was plenty of reason for satisfaction on the way home over a job well done as Reds gave a much more encouraging performance in collecting maximum points.

It wasn’t exactly plain sailing after the Cumbrians raced into a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes, with having to make at least three top-class saves to take them through to a welcome clean sheet.

But Workington were always willing to put in the work and the hard yards, and while they have played better quality football, perhaps the playing surface had something to do with that.

Sutton Coldfield have had the pitch laid for five years now, and although it brings important added revenue into the club, it isn’t universally popular with their players. They had the sympathy of most of the Workington team.

The Reds management trio consistently preach the need for a quick, positive start and they were rewarded on this occasion with two goals in the first 16 minutes.

On seven minutes Jake Simpson played in Joe McGee down the right. He picked-out a perfect cross for Matty Tymon to head home from close range.

It got better for Reds on 16 minutes when acting captain Phil McLuckie was tripped on the edge of the area as he drove purposefully for goal. Simpson, confident in the way he took hold of the ball, was deadly accurate as he curled the free-kick over the wall and beyond keeper James Wren.

With McGee buzzing menacingly; Tymon a mobile, aggressive target man; Scott Allison working hard in defence and attack down the left and Rob McCartney, settling in well on his debut, there was plenty of movement and endeavour in key areas.

McLuckie, revelling in the role of captaincy, was also a key figure in ensuring that Reds won plenty of ball where it mattered.

Sutton Coldfield did get the ball in the net soon after Reds opening goal but Jamieson had been fouled before Joel Kettle fired home.

Generally they found it hard to penetrate, though, as Workington defended solidly and did not seriously pose problems until just before half-time.

On a rare occasion when Sutton Coldfield broke clear Jamieson had to make a good stop with his knee to keep out a shot from Ramone Stephens and when Reds didn’t clear Zak Lilley hit a screamer which the Workington keeper turned over in spectacular fashion.

Sutton Coldfield should have pulled one back ten minutes after the restart.

A corner was half cleared but put back into the box and centre-half Kettle from six yards scooped the ball over the bar.

A great clearing header from Josh Calvert to deal with a whipped cross into the six yard box and another good stop by Jamieson at the feet of Aaron Forde kept Reds out in front.

They also had second-half opportunities themselves.

McGee had a shot deflected into the side netting and also hit another scream just wide of the post. Tymon did well to work an opening for himself but a chip shot went just wide.

From a corner the home side didn’t clear well and McGee hit a screamer from a narrow angle which went wide.

Immediately the home side broke and Weston-Hayles should have done better when put clear but as Jamieson advanced he shot tamely wide.

He had a chance to make amends but shot over from a decent position and was then caught offside when latching onto a flick into the area.

It had been a solid performance from Reds, timely in view of recent performances, with a number of top rated individual efforts.

Sutton Coldfield: Wren, Beresford, Gonzales, Forde, Kettle, Brooks (Turton 45), Stevens (Weston-Hayles 45), Goddard, Lilley (Murphy 74), O‘Callaghan, Melvin. Subs (not used) Loureiro, Harrison.

Workington: Jamieson, Simpson, Smith, May, Calvert (Grandison 74), Earl, McLuckie, McGee, Tymon, McCartney, Allison. Subs (not used) Studholme, Newton, Andrews, Mitchell.

Referee: Matthew Wilkes (Stourbridge)

Crowd: 228

STAR MAN: After a run of drab performances the award has to be a collective team effort for everyone knuckling down and producing a whole-hearted display in testing surroundings.