This was the final outing for a Reds team, pre-lockdown, with the youngsters signing off with a deserved win over the West Lancashire League outfit in this hastily arranged friendly.

Such is the strength in depth of Brian Dawson’s squad, a different XI, almost, took to the field for each half.

And it was the first half line-up which caught the eye with a dominant display of fast, flowing football. All change for the second half and the ‘fresh legs’ didn’t quite match the standards set in the opening forty five minutes.

Nevertheless, it was a notable win achieved on Whitehaven’s 4G pitch.

Dan Whitehead opened the scoring in the eleventh minute, cutting in from the right his left foot shot from the edge of the box deceived Tom Fowler and ended up in the net.

The young Reds doubled their advantage after thirty five minutes thanks to a superb solo effort from Ciaran Booty. Matty Foster won the ball just inside his own half and released Booty who raced half the length of the field before finishing with aplomb.

There was a flurry of activity with three further goals in the final two minutes of the half.

Whitehaven reduced the arrears when Jay Connor broke through the inside left channel, rounded ‘keeper, Scott Paden Gale and rolled the ball into the vacant net.

Back came Reds who restored their two goal advantage immediately thanks to Foster’s shot on the turn which went in via the upright.

And there was still time for Whitehaven to reduce the arrears again, just before the interval. Connor was clattered by Paden-Gale and the referee had no other option than to award the hosts a penalty. Kevin Holliday converted.

Both sides made a raft of substitutions during the interval and the game lost much of the tempo evident in the first half.

Reds won the overall corner count 11-3 but they couldn’t finish off their higher-ranked opponents.

They didn’t retain the ball as well in the second half and their passing wasn’t quite as fluent or accurate.

So, it was with some relief when Louis Pickering netted Reds fourth goal five minutes from time. He collected the ball on the edge of the box and drove home a well struck shot.

But Whitehaven concluded the scoring with another good goal of their own. Connor did well on the right and his cross to the far post was swept home in style by Travis Fyfe.

It was a good work-out for both sides and the final action for a month at least.

Whitehaven: Fowler, Sanczuk (Bunting), Starkey (McGlennon), Coulter (Keeler), Blaney, Goulding (Barton), Green J (Green E), Holliday M, Holliday K, Connor, Fyfe.

Workington Development: (First half) Paden-Gale, Howarth, Dear, Skinner, Pickering, Hambling, Burns, Lowrie, Booty, Foster, Whitehead.

(Second half) Richardson, Dmytrowski, Howarth, Atkinson, Hartley, Palmer, Bell, Lowrie, Houghton, Johnston, Lightfoot.

Referee: Tommy Linford