WORKINGTON Reds secured safe passage to next month's Cumberland Cup Final with a professional performance against the Westmorland league amateurs, setting up a meeting with current holders Carlisle City, as Reds will look to regain the trophy they won back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
It was a relatively strong starting line-up named by assistant Lee Andrews, who took charge of the team while also being named on the bench, later being introduced for a 30-minute cameo for his first Reds appearance since 2018.
The contest started as expected with the NPL outfit on top, but it was the de facto home side who had the first chance with a sharp turn and quick shot from Johnny Murray.
The effort was spilled by Danny Eccles, but the shot-stopper recovered quickly to collect before any further danger could arise.
It was moments later that the semi-professional side took the lead through forward Josh Palmer.
A run down the right-hand side towards the bye line from Josh Galloway saw the midfielder cross the ball in along the floor, finding an unmarked Palmer at the back post for an easy tap-in.
Many might have expected the floodgates to open, but the amateurs dug in and battled with the Reds across the park, limiting the opportunities for the leaf to be extended.
The best chance of the remainder of the half fell minutes before half-time to the home side.
A corner was whipped in from the right-hand side before being head to and fro before falling towards Jake Holden on the edge of the area, his right-footed effort rattling the post, being only a whisker away from the scores being level.
The second half started with the village side on top, with another opportunity to level the scores just five minutes into the half.
A fantastic cross found Kyan Simpson at the back post, with the header flashing beyond the back post.
That was seemingly the wake-up call the Reds needed as they moved into another gear and controlled the rest of the contest.
A Dav Symington shot challenged Kyle Strand as the ball flew and moved through the air, eventually stopped by the shot-stopper's chest.
The visitors extended their lead through substitute Dan Hopper as the home side failed to deal with a corner; it bounced around the area before Hopper's strike nestled into the bottom corner.
Possession lay with Reds for the remainder of the contest as the home side started to tire, the chances grew for the NPL side, with Kyle Strand saving chances from Josh Palmer and the recently introduced Dan Hopper.
The final 20 minutes did see the floodgates open with the Reds asserting their dominance with three goals.
The first was a wonder strike from Dan Hopper following a corner taken short, which found the defender at the edge of the area.
The strike always looked destined for the top left-hand corner and left keeper Kyle Strands helpless.
Two goals in four minutes shortly followed from Josh Palmer to leave the young forward with a hat-trick and showing Billy Barr he's ready for league action as the survival race hots up in NPL Premier.
The home side should have finished the tie with a well-earned goal as Niall Renwick failed to hit the target from short range in the last action before the full-time whistle.
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