WORKINGTON continue to adopt a catch-us-if-you-can approach to tackling promotion, and this was one of the most significant results so far.

Tadcaster Albion travelled north in third place, just four points behind Reds but with three games in hand. They left Borough Park down in fifth and with a seven-point gap between the two clubs.

The two sides meet up again tomorrow night in Yorkshire when progress in the FA Trophy competition is the prize on offer.

After this comfortable league success, Reds will be confident of going there and getting another result in their favour. It should have been even more convincing as Danny Grainger’s men controlled much of the game.

Jim Atkinson did not have to make a serious save until near the end when he blocked a close-range effort at the expense of a corner.

He was given excellent cover by his back four in which the central pairing of Dan Wordsworth and Sam Smith were particularly dominant.

Reds had gone closest to a goal in the first quarter when a fine run by Matty Clarke ended in a low pull back which was stabbed just wide by Nathan Waterston.

The opening goal wasn’t far away, however.

On 27 minutes a long ball from Liam Brockbank was beautifully controlled by Scott Allison who wrong-footed his marker and slipped a clever ball into the area.

Brad Hubbold had timed his run perfectly and, after gathering the pass, drove a low shot across keeper Mike Ingham and into the far corner.

Four minutes later Hubbold almost repaid the favour.

This time he played in Allison who got there ahead of the keeper but saw his shot well blocked by Ingham.

Allison was denied again when he got on the end of a cross from Dave Symington but No1 Ingham, a former Northern Ireland international, went full-length to turn it round the post.

Despite the lack of threats from the opposition, a second goal is always crucial in these situations and it came five minutes into the second-half.

Reds had shown great patience and control in passing the ball around and then, when they quickened the pace around the Albion area, it paid off.

Hubbold drove into the box and slipped a fine ball inside the full-back to the over-lapping Liam Brockbank. He hit the byline and pulled back the perfect cross for Waterston to thump home from a yard out.

Waterston had a shot blocked after he sliced through the middle and Ingham produced another decent save to get down and turn a low drive from Allison behind for a corner.

The win keeps Reds out in front, where they have been all season, and although several clubs have matches in hand on them, the points in the bag could be key.

Match Facts

Reds: Atkinson, Clarke, Brockbank, Wordsworth, Smith, Casson, Symington (Alli 63), Hubbold (Ivison 78), Allison, Waterston (Little 85), Tinnion.

Subs (not used): Hebson, Bowman.

Goals: Hubbold (27), Waterston (50)

Tadcaster Albion: Ingham, Porritt (Pattinson 73), Walters, Wiles, Williamson, Melne, Chimalilo, Leberlin (Fox 84), Day, Beestin, Santos (Annan 68).

Subs (not used): Olaugun, Burn.

Referee: David Pill

Crowd: 435

Star Man: Brad Hubbold