Carlisle City host Workington Reds tomorrow night at Gillford Park, prepared for their biggest pre-season challenge.
So far they have beaten Birtley, Lochmaben and on Saturday, scored two late goals to beat Cleator Moor Celtic 3-1.
Manager Jim Nichols said: “Pre-season has probably gone better than we were expecting. Not so much because of the results but because we have been able to get good minutes and game time into a lot of players.
“With players missing we have been able to give the others up to 90 minutes when if we had everybody there at once it would have been 45 minutes.
“One of the most pleasing things was that we got an hour into the legs of Ryan Swales who has had a long time out of the game.
“We signed him from Gretna and had only used him twice off the bench when he got a really bad ankle injury playing five-a-side with his mates. It’s been a long time out after an operation but he came through it well.
“He played centre-half, rather than midfield because it was his first game back, and I think it will have been the first time he’s played the position.”
“We have two and a half weeks left to the first Northern League game and the Workington game will be a step-up for us but I’m looking forward to seeing how we shape-up.
“There are a few more players back and available like Jordan Holt, Aaron Bradbury and Sam Atkinson.”
City had taken the lead against Celtic with the opening goal from a great free kick by Josh Simpson on 36 minutes but the visitors levelled on 63 minutes through Callum Birdsall.
Then goals in the 84th and 87th minutes from Jordan Irving and Nathan Johnstone gave City the win.
Kick-off tomorrow is 7.30pm.
