Kendal Town stage the big non-league game in the county tomorrow when they host North West Counties Premier League leaders Wythenshawe Town.
It’s become massive for the Mintcakes in view of their disappointing run of results through January, leaving them without a win since the end of December.
They have been plagued by their tendency to give away late goals, none more apparent than on Tuesday when they conceded to Irlam in the 95th and 98th minutes to lose 2-1.
Manager Jimmy Marshall said after that – “Nobody will expect us to get a result against Wythenshawe Town because of our respective runs of form and often that can be the incentive you need.”
In First Division North Holker Old Boys can strengthen their push for a promotion place when they visit fourth bottom Garstang.
The Old Boys are coming off a 1-0 win at bottom side Nelson last Saturday while Garstang went down 4-1 at second-in-the-table Ashton Town.
Workington travel to Hyde United to take on a side in very good form with five straight wins behind them and an unbeaten run of 13 games.
They have just taken Joe Bunney on loan from neighbours Stalybridge Celtic and the former Reds loanee is likely to play at centre back against his former team-mates.
The Tigers have centre-back Joel Amado suspended while Reds will also be without long-serving defender Sam Smith who is banned for the one game.
Manager Danny Grainger will be hopeful that Niall Brookwell will be fit to resume after being substituted in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Whitby Town.
It was also a bonus to have Aidy Roxburgh getting over an hour in Tuesday’s County Cup-tie after a long spell on the sidelines with injury.
In the Northern League Carlisle City continue their push for a top five finish with a home game against Newcastle Benfield.
Although Benfield are a disappointing 13th in the table, some 15 points behind the Cumbrians from the same number of games, they have always proved to be tough opponents for City.
Penrith are also at home, entertaining Guisborough, and it’s a measure of their improvement under Darren Edmondson that they have reached the dizzy heights of 12th and could move into the top half of the table.
Although the Bonnyblues lost 4-1 to Carlisle United in the County Cup on Tuesday Edmondson felt there were plenty of positives from the performance.
Guisborough are ninth in the table, ten points better off than Penrith from one fewer game, so it will be a test for Edmondson’s revived side.
Windscale’s long unbeaten run in the Wearside League came to a shuddering halt last week when they went down 5-1 at Shotton Colliery in the Monkwearmouth Cup.
They will want to get back on track in the League tomorrow when they host Farringdon Detached who are two places and two points behind the Atoms, but having played three more games.
Cleator Moor Celtic are on a losing run of four games in the West Lancashire League but get a break tomorrow when they travel to Lytham Town in the first round of the President’s Cup.
It’s a good opportunity for Stuart Shaw’s side to get back to winning ways against a side lying mid-table in the First Division.
Whitehaven are also involved in President’s Cup action and they travel to First Division opposition. But they will expect a tougher contest as hosts Ulverston Rangers currently lie second in the table only two points behind the leaders.
