It was a day for the old gunslingers at Derwent Park as Fuifui Moimoi and Sean Penkywicz returned to their former stomping ground.

It would however be Town's leading points scorer Carl Forber who had the last laugh in front of a strong home crowd of around 1,000 as they clinched a 34-28 victory.

Workington looked to keep pace with Barrow Raiders and Doncaster at the top of Betfred League One when they welcomed Rochdale Hornets to Derwent Park.

Former Town favourites Moimoi and Penkywicz lined up in an injury ravaged side that was hampered further in the week with star centre Dale Bloomfield announcing his immediate retirement from the game. Penkywicz was selected by Matt Calland and in turn made his 400th career appearance.

Workington nearly got the first points on the board early on but they were thwarted by a penalty against Dec O’Donnell for offside. Rochdale were then given a second penalty for a late shot.

And a further set of six proved too much to handle for the home defence as Rochdale broke through with Lewis Sheridan touching down, and Josh Jordan-Roberts converting.

The sides traded sets before a neat Alex Young kick through was touched down by Dec O’Donnell to bring Town right back into the game and the scores were levelled as Carl Forber converted.

Town pressed the Rochdale line but were valiantly held out and Conor Fitzsimmons knocked on over the line to give Rochdale some breathing space.

And when the visitors were awarded a penalty they elected to take the two points to snatch back the lead on the half hour mark.

Rochdale then capitalised on a Workington error, they were handed the ball inside Town's 40 and they made good use of it as Luke Fowden crashed over under the posts.

This time it was Jordan Syme who converted but the Hornets had the advantage 14-6 at half time.

The second half started much like the 1st with the sides trading sets until an error from Matty Henson gave Rochdale possession.

Good hands allowed Shaun Ainscough to go over in the corner which took their lead out to 18-6 after a failed conversion attempt.

Then began the Town fightback as they started to turn the screw from a Rochdale error. It was Jamie Doran who waltzed his way through to score. Forber converted and Town were back to within six points of their visitors.

Town were awarded a penalty and this time they took full advantage as Jake Moore went over the line Forber converted and on 53 minutes Town were level again.

But it didn't last long as Rochdale again got their noses back in front due to mistakes.

Town let the kick-off go out after a bounce and it was only a brilliant tackle from Caine Barnes that kept Rochdale out.

But the mercurial Penkywicz forced a goal-line drop-out and Town succumbed to the Rochdale pressure as a scoot from dummy half by Ben Moores saw them regain the lead with an unconverted try at 22-18.

A Penkywicz error saw the biggest cheer of the day and Town began to turn the screw again.

Quick hands from Forber, Joe Brown and Brad Holroyd sent the latter in for a try on the touchline. Forber dragged the conversion just wide and once again this seesaw battle was level.

Town were battling hard and they worked an overlap well as Fitzsimmons crashed over from five yards out and Forber converted to give Town the lead with nine minutes remaining.

But this game wasn't over. Moimoi marked his return to Derwent Park with a try as he crashed over and Jordan-Roberts converted for 28-28.

The game was then halted as Stevie Scholey went down with a leg injury and was helped off the pitch.

As the clock ticked down, Penkywicz chanced it on the last but Carl Forber intercepted the pass 30-metres out and went in to score on the hooter as the home fans erupted. He converted his own try as Town recorded a hard fought 34-28 win.

Match Facts

Town: Fell, Holroyd, Brown, Wellington, Young, Doran, Forber, Fitzsimmons, O'Donnell, Scholey, Moore, Barnes, O'Brien. Subs: Henson, Clarke, Dawson, Lightowler.

Tries: O'Donnell, Doran, Moore, Holroyd, Fitzsimmons, Forber.

Goals: Forber 5/6.

Rochdale: Sheridan, Ainscough, Calland, Nixon, Freeman, Yates, Penkywicz, Connaughton, Moores, Walton, Syme, Oakley, Jordan-Roberts. Subs: Forster, Ogden, Moimoi, Fowden.

Tries: Sheridan, Fowden, Ainscough, Moores, Moimoi

Goals: Jordan-Roberts 3/4, Syme 1/2

Referee: Craig Smith.