IN mountaineering terms, Workington want to reach base camp by Christmas, well ahead of their pursuers, and push on to stand on the summit when it’s all over.

That’s why the four league games in December have been picked out by manager Danny Grainger as all winnable games that can take Reds to where they want to be before the New Year.

That run started well at Ossett with what proved to be a comfortable win, albeit for a worrying little spell in the second-half.

Reds had gone in 3-1 to the good and a fourth goal right after the re-start would have put the game beyond their hosts.

But keeper Brett Souter, who had looked decidedly shaky in the first-half, made a good save to deny Nathan Waterston.

Instead, it was Ossett who scored the game’s fifth goal and for just a little spell after that, there was a concern that Reds might undo all their previous good work.

But not for the first time this season it was Reds’ fitness and commitment that saw them through and they took over again, before making sure of the points with a fourth goal four minutes from the end.

The game could not have started any better for the west Cumbrians as they were ahead inside two minutes.

Robbie Hebson fired in a shot from just outside the area and Souter was unable to hold on with the result that Sam Smith came thundering through to hammer the ball into the net.

Hebson, brought back into the side because of the absence of Dave Symington, had an influential first-half as he was involved in all three goals.

But before he got in on the act again, Ossett had levelled on eight minutes. Reds had been uncharacteristically edgy at the back and when the home side moved the ball quickly across the box Aaron Haswell was completely unmarked. He went on to fire a fierce shot beyond the diving Jim Atkinson.

Reds took a few minutes to clear their heads but settled well and on 15 minutes regained the lead. Hebson clipped a lovely weighted ball into the area and Scott Allison nipped in ahead of Souter to steer home for a well-taken poacher’s goal.

The third goal came on 30 minutes and again Hebson was the provider.

This time it was a deeper, aerial cross and it was met powerfully by the head of the onrushing Waterston to give Souter no chance.

Ossett, after their goal had threatened little but they almost pulled one back just before half-time.

A free-kick on the edge of the area from their best player Marko Basic was dropped by Atkinson but he made a fine block to smother the follow-up from Nick Guest and the ball was scrambled behind for a corner.

Two minutes into the second-half Reds should have been further ahead. Waterston used his pace to go clear but was foiled by Souter.

Ossett began to come into the game and on 54 minutes were thrown a lifeline with a goal similar to Reds’ opener. It was a basic shot from just outside the box, Atkinson spilled it and skipper Tom Greaves applied the finish.

It could have been game on in a big way but Reds dug in well with Man of the Season so far, Dan Wordsworth and Smith key figures at the heart of the defence.

Among it all, as well, covering ground in every area of the pitch it seemed, was Reds skipper Conor Tinnion who has hit another golden spell of form.

Gradually, the Ossett effort petered out and it was Reds who looked the most likely in the final quarter of the game.

The final goal, which effectively wrapped up the points, came in the 86th minute and was a thundering strike from the returning Brad Carroll.

Match Facts

Ossett United: Souter, Maltby, Hardaker, Gregory, Cogill, McQuade, Guest, Harrison (Monkhouse 71), Greaves, Basic, Haswell (Porritt 71). Not used: Katsamagkas.

Goals: Haswell 8, Greaves 54

Workington: Atkinson, Clarke, Brockbank, Wordsworth, Smith, Casson, Hebson (Carroll 56), Hubbold (Bowman 88), Allison. Waterston (Ivison 89), Tinnion. Subs (not used): Little, Rowntree.

Goals: Smith 2, Allison 15, Waterston 30, Carroll 86

Referee: Garry Fletcher-Tindall

Crowd: 356

Star man: Conor Tinnion