Salford City is the team everyone is talking about at the minute – and at Workington Reds on Saturday they proved why after an emphatic 4-1 victory.

The team co-owned by former Manchester United superstars Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt proved their title credentials with a dominant display in front of 1,405 fans in the west Cumbrian rain.

Goals from Jordan Hulme and former Manchester United striker Danny Webber gave Salford a dream start after just 20 minutes.

Reds did pull one back through a Joe McGee stunner on 28 minutes.

However, Salford were 3-1 up two minutes before half-time thanks to a Scott Burton wonder strike.

The goal was massive blow to Workington after getting themselves back into the game.

Richie Allen added gloss to the scoreline for Salford in the 74th minute in an uneventful second half.

Reds started the opening stages strongly, pressing and harrying their opponents back into their own half.

However, all their hard work was undone on 10 minutes. Webber broke to the byline, fired the ball across goal and as Gari Rowntree cleared off the line, the ball rebounded against Jordan Hulme and into the net.

Webber was looking a threat every time he had the ball in space and a shot from 20 yards out was well blocked by a brave lunge.

Salford’s bright start to the match became a dream one on 20 minutes and a wet afternoon was starting to resemble a nightmare for Reds.

The pacy Elliott Kebbie whipped in a delicious cross from the right wing and Webber’s glancing header looped over the despairing dive of Jonny Jamieson and into the top corner of the net.

But there is one thing this Workington side never do, and that is give up.

The plucky side were back in the match on 28 minutes. Skipper Rowntree drove a diagonal ball to Matty Tymon, he chested the ball off to McGee and he hit a first-time curling shot into the top corner from 20 yards out.

Salford immediately looked to restore their two-goal lead and they almost did that when Allen’s deflected shot almost looped into the top corner, but Jamieson showed superb agility to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Tymon almost drew the sides level on 38 minutes with a curling shot from 25 yards out, however it just cleared the bar.

Commanding centre-back Kyle May then had a header from a dangerous corner but saw his effort miss the goal by inches.

Workington’s hard work to fight their way back into the match was spoilt on 43 minutes thanks to a Burton screamer.

The midfielder picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a thunderous shot into the top corner.

The first big chance of the second half fell to Salford. The lively Webber played a sumptuous through ball into Allen’s path and the winger was unfortunate that his shot was deflected narrowly over the bar.

But it was Salford dominating possession and the chances in the opening stages of the second half.

Substitute James Poole tried his luck from 30 yards and his decent effort cleared Jamieson’s crossbar.

Workington’s miserable afternoon was compounded on 74 minutes. Tricky winger Allen skipped past a couple of challenges and his left-footed shot from the edge of the box trickled into the bottom corner.

Salford continued to look the more threatening of the two sides and it was Lewis Hardcastle’s turn on 87 minutes to fire a long-range shot, but it was to no avail.

McGee almost netted his second when he was played in down the right and his shot stung the hands of Salford’s Jay Lynch.

That was as good as got in the second half for Reds as the game petered out with the three points in the bag for Salford.

Workington won’t play many better teams this season and it wouldn’t come as a shock if Salford lift the league title come the end of April.

REDS: Jamieson, Simpson (Calvert, 81), Rowntree (C), May, Smith, Earl (Wright, 45), McLuckie (McCartney, 72), Allison, Tymon, McGee, Tinnion. Subs (not used): Grandison, Mitchell.

GOALS: McGee (28 mins).

SALFORD CITY: J Lynch, C Lynch (C), O’Halloran (Poole, 45), Stopforth, Howson, Kebbie, Hardcastle, Burton, Webber (Peers, 70), Hulme, Allen (Moses, 75). Subs (not used): Clark, Mwasile.

GOALS: Hulme (10 mins), Webber (20 mins), Burton (43 mins), Allen (74 mins).

REFEREE: Bob Roberts (Leyland).

ATTENDANCE: 1,405.

STAR MAN: Joe McGee – Linked up well with his fellow attackers and took his goal superbly.