Workington Reds make one of their longest trips of the season this weekend to Lincolnshire to take on Gainsborough Trinity.
It’s the start of a seven match run-in to the end of the NPL Premier Division season with their last game on April 27 at Borough Park against Guiseley.
There’s no tension, like last year, when Reds were making sure of their play-off place and then seeing off Runcorn Linnets in the final.
They have retained their status for next season and that was the first requirement after promotion.
But with Danny Grainger set to move on after the Guiseley game Reds’ future will be in the hands of a new man, who faces a crucial rebuilding job.
Reds have said they are closing in on their new man after starting interviews last week, giving him time to assess the current squad and start work on recruitment.
Kendal Town have suffered two successive defeats – conceding 10 goals in the process – after six straight wins in the North West Counties Premier Division.
After fighting back into the play-off picture in fourth, the Mintcakes are now down to seventh with six games to play.
They have to get back into the winning groove tomorrow when they return to Parkside Road to take-on Lower Breck, who sit one place lower in the table, but are eight points adrift.
Three of those six-in-a-row victories were by 1-0 and manager Jimmy Marshall would certainly take another against the Liverpool visitors.
In First Division North Holker Old Boys still have a chance of making the play-offs but have little margin for error.
Tomorrow sees them entertaining third-placed Ashton Town in what has to be a must-win game for the south Cumbrians.
In the Northern League Carlisle City have slipped out of the top five play-off posotions with some disappointing results of late.
It looked as though they were back on track for a late push when they won at rivals Birtley on Saturday – only to promptly lose on Tuesday night when Birtley visited Gillford Park for the return.
They have a tough-looking assignment tomorrow at Redcar Athletic, now a place below City in the Northern League First Division table.
Redcar have improved considerably after signing a number of players from Marske when they resigned from the Northern Premier League.
Penrith also had back-to-back games Saturday and Tuesday – with different performances and results.
They were beaten 5-1 at home by West Auckland and in the second game they drew 1-1 and were very unlucky not to win it.
Penrith chairman Billy Williams said: “West Auckland were very hospitable and complimentary after the game through there even though they were disappointed, having dropped points and are pushing for a play-off place.
“It was a pleasure to be there and see our performance, especially after how we had played on Saturday.”
But it doesn’t get any easier for Penrith as they travel to leaders Bishop Auckland tomorrow.
In the West Lancashire League there’s no game for Whitehaven who moved to eighth after last week’s 2-1 win at Hurst Green.
Cleator Moor Celtic currently lie tenth, but their game at Poulton was washed out last week. They hope to resume tomorrow at home to fifth placed Burscough Richmond.
Windscale, slowly getting over their long injury problems, have a big game at the Falcon Complex in Egremont when they entertain leaders Darlington Town.
