Redditch United moved six points clear of the Blue Square North relegation places with victory over Workington.

It was the Reds' first home victory since October and manager Gary Whild told BBC Hereford and Worcester his squad deserved a lot of credit.

"I've got nothing but admiration for the amount of hard work they have put in," he said.

"The last six or seven weeks have been brilliant and they thoroughly deserve all the results they have got."

Workington arrived at Valley Stadium thinking that a win over Whild's struggling side would finally banish all their own fears of relegation, but they seldom threatened.

We have played a lot better this season and have got nothing but I thought today that we ground out the result Gary Whild

Redditch opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Ryan Beswick's free kick was spilled by Adam Collin in the Workington goal and Gary Hay poked the ball home from close range.

The visitors' best chance came within 60 seconds when only a desperate goal-line clearance kept Redditch's lead intact.

Redditch made the points safe on 71 minutes when Owen Story profited from more good work by Beswick to fire home from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

The victory clearly came as a relief to Whild, but he felt it was a result that had been coming for some time.

"It was good to win although I feel that we have played a lot better at home this season and ended up with nothing," he said.

"In a scrappy game, when you take into consideration the state of the pitch, it was a hard-earned three points."

The financial problems at Valley Stadium this season have led to an almost complete rebuilding of the squad mid-season, but Whild says that is just a fact of life at Blue Square North level.

He felt the way in which the squad had knuckled down to the task in hand spoke volumes about the character of the players he had brought in.

"Since we put this side together ahead of the home game with Droylsden, other than the first half that day, they have all been exceptional," he said.

"They have all given their all and have been a credit to themselves and the football club.

"We have played a lot better this season and have got nothing but I thought that we ground out the result."

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