Spartans manager Tom Wade felt his side got away with a Boxing Day gift on Friday in beating Workington 1-0 at Croft Park.
“There’s no way we deserved the three points,” he said. “That had to be the worst we have played for a while but it’s not always about pretty football and that game was about battling and commitment on a boggy pitch. We kept ourselves in the game and got away with the win.
“I thought Workington were the best side we’ve played this season. They were very organised with a solid midfield and four willing runners up front and deserved a draw from the match, at least.
“Keeper Peter Jeffries kept us in it in the first ten minutes and went on to make a great penalty save. He thoroughly merited his Man of the Match award, and that shows how good Workington were. They’ll do very well this season.
“We made a few personnel changes for the game to keep some fresh legs back for the Whitby game.”