The hundreds of extras who filed through the turnstiles contributed to the best attendance of the season and they were presented with the sort of performance the rest of us have witnessed for most of this disastrous campaign.

Yet in a season of depressing statistics, this apology of a performance reached a painful new low and the referee’s final whistle relieved us all of an afternoon of abject suffering.

Sporting a very smart one-off, retro style strip, Workington looked the part as the game kicked-off on a very warm Easter Monday afternoon. But any resemblance to a football team ended soon after and the customary 2-0 defeat was confirmed after an inept opening half hour.

All Lancaster City had to do was turn-up and they would be guaranteed the points – and so it proved!

Two defensive headers were punished, just like the many self-inflicted errors have been all season.

Sam Smith was a tad unfortunate when his attempted clearance actually presented City with a pathway to goal in the twenty fifth minute. Brad Carsley broke clear and was credited with the goal but the last touch may well have been via a Workington boot.

And the second, after thirty four minutes, was almost a replica of the first. Skipper Gari Rowntree’s attempted header to his ‘keeper, Aaran Taylor, fell short and Carsley pounced to net another gift-wrapped goal.

The sun-drenched crowd could have gone home at that point on the basis that Reds have now lost by that score line on seven occasions this year!

Top scorer Jason Walker had two feeble attempts at goal in the first half, which Jack Sims saved with ease, and was frustrated by a stunning reflex stop soon after the break as the keeper kept out Reds’ best effort at goal.

Rowntree headed wide, via a Conor Tinnion corner, and the latter’s shot also missed the target with the only other two chances of note.

And Carsley, chasing a hat-trick, went for glory only to be thwarted by Taylor when passing to a colleague in support might have been the better option.

There wasn’t even a consolation goal to cheer but the introduction of seventeen year old, Luke Ivison, eventually lifted the mood of the home support. The rookie can be proud of his twenty minute cameo appearance with the midfielder, who has progressed via the Reserves, contributing more in the game than many of his senior colleagues.

The referee stopped the game in each half for a drinks break, a sensible course of action in the conditions.

Workington Taylor, Symington, Rowntree, Douglas, Smith, Carroll (Ivison, 69), Joel (Maguire, 46), Holt, Walker, Thompson, Tinnion. Substitutes – Wordsworth, Harker, Casson (not used).

Lancaster City Sims, Henry, Dugdale, Wills, Steel, Muir, Wilson, Norris, Blinkhorn (Moss, 75), Carsley (Bailey S, 81), Bailey C (Dawson, 58). Substitutes – Fensome, Jarvis (not used).

Referee Alex Clark

Attendance 689