The top four teams in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division have home games on Saturday.
Without taking anything for granted, all four will expect to win and complete the first half of the season.
Furness (87), Carlisle (85), Workington (78) and Cockermouth (75) make up the leading quartet and face teams in the bottom five.
Leaders Furness are at home against a Cleator side who have dropped down the table like a stone.
Indeed, the battle to avoid the drop is likely to be as intense as the scrap for the title with the current bottom four – Lindal Moor (49), Cleator (46), Wigton (44) and Haverigg (38).
Furness have a strong side this season, clearly intent on regaining their title, but they were well beaten at home by Cockermouth – their only loss so far.
Carlisle have only lost the one game against Furness, although they were also beaten by Cockermouth in the Higson Cup.
The champions are back at Edenside against a Lindal side who went into the season with one target – staying in the top- flight after promotion.
Cockermouth will be looking to maintain their challenge, albeit 12 points behind the leaders, when they entertain Wigton.
The Lowmoor Road side have rallied after a winless start to the season and have been shaping much more competitively of late.
Workington, disappointed to slip-up at Keswick last week so soon after the home defeat by Carlisle, need to get back on track quickly.
They host Egremont at the Valentine Ground with the visitors enjoying a position in the top five until slipping into the lower half of the table after defeat by Furness last week.
Keswick, after a poor start to the season, appear to be on the march again and have the chance to follow up last week’s win against Workington with another Fitz Park fixture, this one against bottom side Haverigg.
Whitehaven have climbed into the top half of the table and have an interesting home clash against the side five points better off and immediately above them in Millom.
There are matches on Friday night as the T20 tournament starts to hot up.
- In the north – Carlisle v Keswick and Wigton v Cockermouth.
- In the south – Dalton v Lindal Moor; Haverigg v Furness.
- In the west – Egremont v Cleator; Whitehaven v Workington.
