Reds joint boss Dave Hewson: We are pleased to end the season on a high with Cumberland Cup win over Penrith

The Bonny Blues broke the deadlock when former Reds man Martyn Coleman found the net with a free-kick shortly before half-time.

But substitute Scott Allison headed home to level the scores and force extra-time.

Then, with just two minutes of extra-time to play and penalties looming, ex-Carlisle United player Dave Symington found the bottom corner to ensure it was Reds that won the Cumberland Cup Final at Brunton Park.

And the victory was a good way for Workington to end their season after losing to Stourbridge in extra-time in their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play-off semi-final last Monday.

Hewson said: “It was a nice way to end the season on a high and a positive after the heartache of the play-offs.

“So, all credit to the lads for sticking with it in extra-time and, luckily, we really got that all-important second goal.”

Symington was one of Reds’ scorers in their play-off semi-final loss at Stourbridge and again popped up with a big goal as he beat former Workington Reds keeper Jonny Jamieson to score, what proved to be, the winning goal after coming off the bench at half-time.

Hewson added: “He has got bags of ability. He has a lot of goals.

"We presented him with the top goalscorer award for last season [after yesterday’s game], so I thought he made a difference when he came on, to be honest.

“I thought he added a little more quality and created more opportunities, and it was just reward for his hard work when he got his goal at the end.”

But some of the squad players that helped Reds to make this stage in the competition were given the opportunity to start the Cumberland Cup Final.

And Hewson felt it will be a good experience for those players.

He said: “It is a good experience for them and Penrith are a very strong, competitive side who I thought gave a great account of themselves.

“I just felt like that it was right that we gave all the players an opportunity, really.

“And I did feel like, maybe when we made the changes, we started to show a little bit more composure and a little bit more creativity, and made more chances.”

Hewson also admitted the players deserve credit for the way they ended the season after a hectic end to their campaign.

He said: “You have got to give the lads credit for the hard work they have put in all season but especially at the end of the season.

“There were a lot of games in a short space of time.

"So, to come out of that and reach the play-off, it was a great achievement.

“Yes there was a lot of heartache [after the semi-final] and it was very hard to take but, upon reflection, you have got to be pleased with finishing fourth and to top it off with the Cumberland Cup victory makes it another positive season.”