Recap
Workington took another step towards Premier Division survival whilst almost condemning Spartans to a second successive relegation.
Mark Fell knows two more wins should just about guarantee another season at Step 3 and offered empathy towards his counterpart, Michael Connor, the latest manager trying to steer Blyth through troubled waters.
And whatever spin is added to the post match analysis, Workington won with a bit to spare after starting and finishing the game strongly. Blyth did show plenty of spirit for a twenty spell at the start of the second half but, overall, were second best in this historic fixture.
Ahead after ten minutes and doubling their advantage soon after, Reds had to rely on two important saves from Jack Barrett to take that lead into the interval.
Efe Ambrose headed home from close range at the far post to open the scoring then, for the second time this term, the Workington supporters were treated to his elaborate triple summersault celebration.
The second was well created and well finished as Ruben Grewal got on the end of Jake Allan’s clever assist before slotting past the helpless Matthew Bancroft.
At that point, Reds’ ‘keeper, Barrett, made an important save to thwart Leon Burke.
It was then Bancroft’s turn to receive applause from the sun-drenched crowd as he saved well to push away Steven Rigg’s diving header and Reds’ top scorer then saw an acrobatic overhead kick just fail to add a spectacular goal to his impressive portfolio. The ball rattled the crossbar before rebounding to safety.
Kai Nugent was the next to be thwarted by the busy Bancroft as Spartans survived another promising attack.
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It could, and should, have been a healthy lead as half time approached but Spartans almost reduced the arrears when Shay Richardson’s effort was kept out by Barrett.
Symington tested Bancroft just after the restart but his moment would come later after Blyth had given their excellent travelling support something to cheer.
A length of the pitch solo run from Cyril Giraud got Blyth deep into Workington territory and when Dean Briggs sent a decent cross into the box, Richardson directed a fine header past Barrett into the net, reducing the arrears in the fifty-fifth minute.
The hosts regained control and there was no way back for Spartans once Symington had scored his first Borough Park goal in five months. It came from a trademark freekick, sublimely clipped over the green and white wall and beyond the out of position Bancroft for Reds’ third in the seventy second minute.
He came close to an audacious second soon after when a poor clearance fell to the skipper and his effort from thirty-five yards just drifted wide.
Another wayward clearance fell to Rigg and, having being denied a spectacular goal in the first half, he gratefully accepted this seventy-eighth minute gift, lobbing the ball into the vacant net from distance with Bancroft in no man’s land.
Rigg’s late chance appeared to be heading for the net for what would have been a deserved fifth but Ambrose couldn’t resist heading home to make sure and he was flagged offside so the ‘goal’ was disallowed.
It was Reds best win of the season and took them to 42 points, within touching distance of safety.
Workington: Barrett, Barnes (Clarke, 82), Fitzpatrick, Jake Allan (Galloway, 76), Pani, Ambrose, Symington, Grewal (Strachan, 69), Rigg, Nugent (Casson, 60), Jamie Allen (McDonough, 82).
Blyth Spartans: Bancroft, Oliver, Holvey, Richardson, McClafferty, Almond, Giraud, Burke, Aitken (Dixon, 80), Reed (Briggs, 52), Deverdics (Whittaker, 80). Substitute – Kinniburgh (not used).
Referee: Sam Ross
Bookings: Pani, Symington, Strachan (Workington), Aitken, Almond, Briggs, Richardson (Blyth Spartans)
Attendance: 905