Workington Reds survived a battle royal with Marine to clinch three valuable points in a hard-fought encounter.

Reds were down to 10-men for the majority of the second half as Conor Tinnion was sent for an early bath.

In truth Reds should be grateful that they managed to hold out for a 2-1 win against a Marine side who would go home disappointed not to have earned at least a point.

Workington had patches when they were on top with Dave Symington causing problems on occasion.

And, in the end, the defence held out with true grit and determination to ensure Workington kept up their winning form.

It was a devastating start for the visitors as Reds looked to press early on in the game. Jake Simpson put a searching cross into the box and as Marine defender Peter Wylie looked to defuse the ball, he directed into the back of his own net.

Marine immediately looked to make amends but Adam Hughes' bullet header went safely past Aaran Taylor's post. And another, this time off the head of William Smart, went into the arms of the keeper.

The visitors were looking the more likely to score as they created opportunities and had the Reds defence scrambling on occasion.

On the break, Dave Symington tried his luck but his powerful shot was blocked by Marine captain Hughes.

Then into the 21st minute, George Lomax picked up a lovely ball through the centre and went one-on-one with an advancing Taylor but sent his shot wide of the target.

Reds started to get into gear and they got a great chance when Symington's shot took a deflection and went behind for a corner.

As it came looping in Sam Smith rose up to fire a bullet header which ricocheted off the crossbar but the referee had blown up for an infringement in the area.

The game quietened down and both sides were restricted to the odd effort on the break.

But then moving into the final five minutes of the half some neat footwork from Tinnion allowed him to get a shot off that just went past the post.

Jordan Holt then unleashed a shot which came back off the keeper and in a scramble, Jack Egan got a strike away but it went wide of the target.

Dan Wordsworth was shown the yellow card for a challenge near just outside the area on the right hand side.

Marine got the free kick and it was put into the danger area but Josh Calvert made a crucial clearance for Reds and the home side went in at half time with a one-goal advantage.

Reds came out in the second half with Anthony Wright into the action, replacing James Earl.

And the home side were straight onto the attack as Allison curled a nice ball into the box looking for the run of Holt in the centre but a Marine defender just managed to clear.

Minutes later and Wright had an immediate impact as he played a lovely ball in for Egan but the keeper just got there before the onrushing youngster.

Holt caused problems for the visiting defence as he went on a nice run into the danger zone but he lifted his final effort over the bar.

Then an off the ball incident saw Conor Tinnion end his night early as he was handed a red card by the referee, leaving the home side with just 10-men for the remaining 39 minutes.

Reds made a change with Nathan Waterston coming on for Jack Egan and they continued to attack the game.

Then a high and deep cross from Symington went over the keeper and Waterston was there at the far post to slot it home and hand Reds some breathing space.

Symington was in the thick of it again as he beat his man and got himself into space before letting loose a shot that the keeper just got a hand to turn wide.

Then Reds were caught out as Lomax got a great cross in from the right and Danny Mitchley hammered the ball into the back of the net to bring Marine right back into the game.

Marine upped the pace and Simpson cleared one effort off the line as Reds scrambled to keep their one-goal advantage.

The visitors threw everything at their hosts and Reds had to survive three corners in the dying minutes to hold out for a vital win at Borough Park.

Reds: Taylor, Simpson, Smith, Wordsworth, Calvert, Earl (Wright 46), Symington, Holt, Allison, Egan (Waterston 54), Tinnion. Subs (not used): Joel, Douglas, Mellen.

Goals: OG 3, Waterston 59.

Yellow cards: Wordsworth 42.

Red card: Tinnion 51.

Marine: Barnes, Freeland, Short, Huighes, Wylie, Smart, Murray, Brewster (Mitchley 54), Bailey, G Lomax, Edgar (C Lomax 69). Subs (not used): Strickland, Bradshaw, Mendes.

Goals: Mitchley 78

Referee: S Dial.

Half time: 1-0

Crowd: 341.