Recap
A shambolic first half display proved costly for Reds as they slipped to a third successive league defeat, their first on home soil.
And although they restored a bit of pride following a much-improved display after the break, ’Brig bagged all three points to leapfrog Reds in the Premier Division table.
They fell behind in the thirteenth minute with the Preston side moving the ball efficiently through midfield and onto Lucas Weaver. He cut inside and despatched a cross shot beyond Alex Mitchell for the opener.
Then, seven minutes later, they doubled their advantage with goal scorer Mitchell laying on the chance for Jeff Adubofour who bundled the ball home from six yards.
Reds looked like a team of total strangers in that opening half hour, prompting the manager to make a double substitution with young and old replaced by young and old.
In two rare sorties into enemy territory, Aran Fitzpatrick was left with his face in the turf but the referee turned down appeals for a penalty then Kaedyn Kamara, after playing a neat one-two with David Symington, sent his shot into the side-netting.
But the half ended with Adubofour coming close to sneaking a third for the visitors on the stroke of half time, his close-range header rebounding to safety off the woodwork.
There was a marked improvement from the hosts after the break – a better tempo, more efficient use of the ball, a string of corners and set pieces but few clear-cut opportunities created.
Steven Swinglehurst headed narrowly wide from a corner and David Norris just failed to get a good connection on another cross.
The goal which they deserved came from skipper Symington who cashed in on a defensive error and finished well a quarter of an hour from time.
But Bamber Bridge were able to see out the game without too much concern.
Efe Ambrose made his home debut for Reds and, like his new colleagues, looked a bit shaky to start with but improved the longer the game progressed.
Reds’ frustration was compounded after the final whistle when Mark Fell and one of his coaching staff, Craig Rutherford, picked up a red card from the referee following verbal exchanges.
Workington: Mitchell, Little, Fitzpatrick, Ambrose, Swinglehurst (Nugent, 65), Wilkinson (Norris, 34), Symington, Allan, Hubbold (Stephenson, 34), Kamara, Galloway. Substitutes – Beck, McCarron (not used).
Bamber Bridge: Michalski, Wallbank, Baxter, Squires, Grand, Edwards (Mohamed, 85), Weaver (Churchman, 78), Potts, Molloy, Hey (Kenyon, 63), Adubofour (Hasler-Gregg, 55).
Referee: Sam Ross, Durham
Bookings: Symington (Workington), Squires (Bamber Bridge)
Red card: Fell, Rutherford (Workington)
Attendance: 524