Workington Reds came away with a lot of confidence after a strong 4-1 victory over Westmorland League outfit Keswick last night.

The highlight for Reds had to be a hat-trick for experienced centre forward Jason Walker but there were some good performances across the park, particularly from another new face Brad Hubbold.

Keswick had their own man of the moment goalkeeper John Phillips who made some spectacular saves to deny Reds on numerous occasions but the night belonged to the home side.

Much of the early pressure came from Reds, who fielded a strong team in their penultimate friendly ahead of the new season.

But take nothing away from the Keswick effort as Richard Bannister had an early chance to cause problems snuffed out.

Reds were in the ascendancy though with a corner in the opening minutes curled in by Conor Tinnion. It looked goalbound but was headed off the line at the last second by a Keswick defender.

Sam Joel, back from injury, went close on nine minutes, as he wrong footed the Keswick defence, turned inside and took the shot which just went narrowly wide of the target.

Reds kept coming as a nice cross from Jamie Mellen found the head of Matty Douglas but his effort went across the face of the goal.

Brad Hubbold began to come to the fore as his shot was deflected out for a corner. That was swung in by Tinnion but Keswick keeper John Phillips leapt up strongly to collect in crowded area

More great play from Hubbold saw him get into space on the right and he put in a perfect cross for Jamie Mellen to rise up and score the opening goal in the 16th minute.

And just three minutes later it was 2-0 as Jason Walker was brought down in the area and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.

It was Walker who stepped up to the plate and he made no mistake hammering it into the back of the net.

The experienced Walker got into space in the area as Reds looked to build on their lead but unselfishly he squared the ball across to Hubbold but his effort from close range was halted by the keeper.

Phillips stepped in to save Keswick again when he made a great double save from Walker, he palmed away his first effort before regathering as the forward looked to strike again.

Alfie West had to scramble back and put out a Hubbold cross, at the expense of a corner, for Keswick but they managed to hold out to half time.

Reds made some changes at half time with Niall Cowperthwaite, Ellis Pearson, Kieran Maguire and Jaic Miller entering the fray.

Phillips proved Keswick's saviour once again on 54 minutes as he leapt up majestically to tip a Cowperthwaite shot just over the bar.

Lewis Chamber looked to play in Josh Hilton as they tried to catch Reds on a break but the attack fizzled out and moments later Hilton tried again but this time his effort went into the arms of Reds keeper Aaran Taylor.

At the opposite end of the field Maguire was felled just outside the area and Mellen stood over the resulting free kick but the chance went up and well over the bar.

Maguire tried his luck as he turned and put in a great looking shot, aiming for the top corner but that man Phillips again thwarted the home side with another spectacular fingertip save.

Cowperthwaite looked to come in from the right han d side and angled a shot in but it went across the Keswick goal.

The Reds threat finally materialised on 77 minutes when Walker chested down a good cross from the right and in the same movement he hammered it home to beat Phillips for the first time in the second half.

But just moments later Keswick were on the scoresheet as Karl Southern struck the ball well from the edge of the area to reward his side for their hard work.

Southern then had to turn back to defence as he headed out a dangerous looking cross from Ellis Pearson.

But the final word went to Walker as the talented centre forward picked up his hat-trick slotting the ball away after a scramble in the penalty area.