Recap
Reds had to overcome a below par City outfit and the atrocious weather in their Fred Conway Cumberland Cup semi-final and can now look forward to the showpiece game at Brunton Park towards the end of the season.
They will meet Penrith in the final, on a date to be confirmed, after a straightforward victory against the cup holders.
Both sides deserve credit for attempting to play football in such hostile conditions but it was higher-ranked Workington who enjoyed control throughout.
They established a three-goal advantage, by half time, when the conditions were in their favour then kept the Sky Blues at arm’s length when they had the strong wind and driving rain at their backs.
Danny Grainger can now look forward to returning to the stadium he used to call home and, of more significance, got the response he was looking for after Reds’ shortcomings in their previous league encounter.
The tempo seemed better from the off and City were swept aside in a one-sided first half.
A goal after just five minutes helped the Workington cause with Steven Rigg opening the scoring by side-footing the ball home after Obua Mugalula provided the assist from the left.
And Reds doubled their advantage eleven minutes in when Brad Hubbold scored direct from a corner with his in-swinging delivery deceiving ‘keeper, Steven Townsley, who misread the flight of the ball.
When the Carlisle defence parted like the Red Sea, the home side cashed in for a third goal on the half hour mark. Dav Symington, wearing the captain’s arm band following Sam Smith’s early departure, broke free down the right and passed inside to Mugalula. He chopped back inside and curled the ball beyond Townsley and into the net.
Mugalula almost scored an identical goal but Marc Gallimore got a head to the ball and averted the danger.
It was a damage limitation exercise for City by then but the tie was effectively confined to the record books when Reds scored a fourth ten minutes after the restart.
Hubbold, still searching for full fitness, proved how valuable he can be to the Workington cause by creating the goal. His cross from an acute angle on the left was met by Lewis Reilly who headed home a fine goal.
Workington had the ball in Townsley’s net on three further occasions but all were disallowed on the raising of an assistant referee’s flag.
Jordan Palmer, who started the season at Borough Park before returning to City, looked the best bet for a consolation goal but squandered his best opportunity from the spot.
Danny Eccles was put into trouble with a hospital pass and tripped Callum Birdsall who had intercepted the ball. The referee made the right decision awarding the penalty but Palmer’s spot-kick was ballooned over the bar.
He also wasted another effort but was thwarted by an excellent Eccles save with the one attempt which did find the target.
Workington: Eccles, McCaragher, Leslie, Smith (Symington, 18), Birch, Hubbold, Hughes (Jerome, 58), Carroll (Moore, 58), Reilly, Rigg, Mugalula. Substitutes – Clarke, Atkinson (not used).
Carlisle City: Townsley, Ivison, Bradbury, Olsen, Gallimore, Swailes (Kerr, 51), Kelly, Simpson, Birdsall (Gordon, 80), Mahone (Cairns, 72), Palmer. Substitutes – Hartley, Shields (not used).
Referee: Scott Henry, Carlisle
Bookings: Swailes, Mahone (Carlisle City)
Attendance: 267