Witton Albion picked up another three points as they despatched relegation-threatened Workington at a sunny Wincham Park.
Victory came courtesy of two goals from on-loan defender Ben Harrison, the Altrincham man making it three goals in three appearances since his return to the club.

Carl Macauley brought Luke Offord and River Humphreys back into the Albion defence with Will Jones and Lewis Doyle dropping down to the substitutes bench.

The home side began the game the better of the two teams and Danny McKenna had an early opportunity to get himself on the scoresheet, a smart turn got him away from his man but his shot on the turn hit the side netting.

Albion didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal which came on eight minutes. A ball was played into the penalty area, McKenna won a header on the edge of the penalty area and the ball fell nicely to Ben Harrison who, with his back to goal, produced an overhead kick to send the ball into the back of the net.

Midway through the first half, the visitors produced their best bit of football. Nice interplay on the edge of the penalty area saw the ball with Garry Thompson to the left of the 18-yard box but his low shot was well saved by Greg Hall.

Witton went close with a Josh Wardle header wide of the target following a long Anthony Gardner throw in, before the latter was involved in a mix up at the other end on the stroke of half time. His header back towards his own goalkeeper fell short, but a combination of River Humphreys and Hall denied Workington an effort on goal.

Three minutes after the break, Workington came closest to finding the net. A good ball in from the left was headed towards goal from close range but Hall was alert and made a smart save on his goal line.

Down the other end, Humphreys found Rob Hopley with an excellent diagonal ball but the captain’s lofted effort found Arran Taylor’s fingertips in the Workington goal.

Will Jones was introduced to replace Billy Smart just before Wardle had an effort which somehow failed to find the target from close range as Albion went in search of a second goal to kill the game off.

That decisive strike came on 62 minutes. Humphreys delivered another excellent diagonal ball into the penalty area, this time from a deep free kick, and Harrison was there at the back post and powered home an unstoppable header at the back post to double the advantage and add to his goals tally.

The visitors hit the post with 13 minutes remaining as Dan Carmichael did well to get to the byline but his cross looped over Hall and rebounded back into play off the far post before Witton cleared their lines.

Cesaire Lingouba replaced Tom Owens before Albion hit the woodwork themselves. Another long throw by Gardner was met by Hopley in the penalty area but his flick header came off the top of the crossbar and went over Taylor’s goal.

Lewis Doyle was introduced into the action for the final few minutes in place of James Foley, on his 100th appearance for the club, as Albion comfortably saw out a home win which keeps them in 10th position in the NPL Premier table with a trip to another relegation candidate, Mickleover Sports, to come on Tuesday evening.

Witton Albion: Hall, Gardner, Offord, Wardle, Humphreys, Harrison, McKenna, Owens (Lingouba 79'), Hopley, Smart (Jones 54'), Foley (Doyle 90').
Subs not used: Egan & Neild. Yellow Card: Gardner

Workington: Taylor, Douglas, Smith, Wordsworth, Calvert (Holt 12'), Carroll (Carmichael 69'), Symington, Cowperthwaite, Allison, Thompson (Walker 72'), Tinnion.
Subs not used: Joel & Rowntree. Yellow Cards: Smith, Thompson, Holt & Symington

Many thanks to VIJAY ANTHWAL for the video clips