Two spectacular goals from skipper Conor Tinnion ultimately helped Workington to another away win.
But it was a remarkable goal-saving tackle which probably played as big a part in the victory as his goals.
For Reds could have gone in at half time trailing a resurgent Tadcaster, clearly enjoying the return to their own Ings Lane ground.
Jake Day, an old-fashioned, raw-boned centre-forward had already scored the opener and was denied a second by a wonderful goal-line clearance by Liam Brockbank.
Then late in the half, some uncharacteristic loose work in defence allowed him clean through on goal with Jim Atkinson caught well out of position.
Day should have scored by just passing the ball into an unguarded net, but he kept on going forward until he reached the penalty spot.
Somehow Tinnion got back and with a well-timed tackle got in to prevent the Albion striker from completing what should have been a formality seconds earlier.
Day certainly had been more clinical in the first minute of the game when he was played in and from an angle his cross shot beat Atkinson to find the bottom corner.
Not the start Reds boss Danny Grainger was looking for, and early on the bustling Day and the lively Donald Chimalilo caused a few problems.
Gradually Reds found some rhythm and on 17 minutes got the chance to get back on terms from the penalty spot.
It looked a trifle harsh on the Tadcaster defender as a shot from Nathan Waterston cannoned into his hand and the referee pointed straight to the spot.
A penalty against Reds for a similar incident would not have gone down well but to be fair there was minimal fuss from the home players as Scott Allison went to retrieve the ball.
He made no mistake, notching his 22nd League goal of the season.
Soon afterwards, Reds could have gone in front. Tinnion lifted a free-kick into the box and Dan Wordsworth was first there on his own, but from close range his downward header bounced wide.
Then came the close calls at the other end. Day did really well, surging in from the left, beating Atkinson with a low shot but Brockbank slid in to make a superb goal-line clearance.
Day was unlucky with that one but his missed opportunity a few minutes later will cause him sleepless nights for weeks. Why he didn’t finish it off, into an empty net, when first presented with the chance only he will know. Instead of Day earning the plaudits of his team-mates it was Tinnion who was the hero with that brilliant tackle.
There was a long delay for treatment to Waterston after he fell awkwardly and dislocated his shoulder, with Millenic Alli coming on as substitute. But on 61 minutes Reds went in front from a free kick on the edge of the area.
Dav Symington and Tinnion seemed to have a long conversation about who was taking it. Home keeper Mike Ingham probably guessed Symington and was just a fraction late in getting across to his left as Tinnion’s effort found the bottom corner.
But the lead only lasted seven minutes and Reds were caught out at a quickly taken free-kick.
Bokinja Lebrun took it, got onto the return ball, and from 12 yards lifted the ball beyond Atkinson into the top corner.
Suddenly Reds had work to do again and they had to produce some brave defending from the likes of Wordsworth and Sam Smith to help keep a grip on a revived Tadcaster.
The all important fifth goal went Workington’s way on 78 minutes – and it was a gem from Tinnion.
Allison played him in on the left where two shimmies and a couple of feints and half turns took him past the defenders, before a great shot beat Ingham to find the net off the inside of the post.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts and for the rest of the game, plus the extra five minutes for Waterston’s injury, Reds were as comfortable as at any time in the game.
They were even rewarded with a fourth goal in the third minute of time added on.
Alli, who had been largely frustrating in his spell on the pitch, took aim from the edge of the area after finding space for a shot and it found a welcome resting place in the bottom corner. Three times in a row he has come on as a substitute and scored a goal.
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