Carlisle City boss Dan Kirkup is looking forward to the challenge of taking on two of the Northern League heavyweights in the next four days.
City host West Auckland tomorrow and then on Tuesday have pre-season title favourites Redcar Athletic as visitors to Gilford Park.
“It will be tough taking on two of the big guns in successive games but we are at home and if we have hopes of making the play-offs we have to do well in these sort of games,” said Kirkup.
City are 10th in the table but only four points behind Marske United who are in the last play-off position and have played a game more.
Kirkup is still looking at adding to his squad but has no new faces ready to face West Auckland, who are currently fourth, but only five points better-off from two extra games. Redcar Athletic who visit on Tuesday are second in the table and starting to pull clear with leaders Boro Rangers.
Darren Edmondson’s Penrith go to third in the table Blyth Town tomorrow and fielding a first-choice side on a regular basis has proved difficult, and near impossible this season so far.
Injuries and suspensions have caused serious disruptions, and have contributed to an inconsistent run of form so far. When Edmondson can get a strong side out the Bonnyblues are capable of mixing it with the very best.
Blyth Town are up there after last year’s promotion and Penrith will almost certainly need to be at their best – and strongest – to give them a serious contest.
Kendal Town are now the best-positioned Cumbrian side in the First Division, currently seventh after their 3-1 win in mid-week over Easington Colliery.
They are back at home again tomorrow against Shildon, once one of the Northern League’s big spenders but now more becalmed in mid-table.
The Mintcakes have added to their squad by re-signing striker Tom Kilifin who was the North West Counties top scorer in his last spell at Parkside Road, before making a move to Bury that didn’t work-out and he ended last season back at Lancaster City.
Dolly Blues manager Chris Willcock was happy for Killer to go out on dual registration and get some game time so that he could compete for a place at the Giant Axe.
Willcock’s former club Workington are in Fred Conway County Cup action tomorrow at county league side Mirehouse.
The Whitehaven side are currently second in the County League table and looking forward to hosting the Cup holders.
Reds boss Mark Fell is likely to give starts to players who have been shoirt of game time so far, as well as taking the opportunity to look at some of the younger players at the club he has not had a chance to look at in action so far.
He won’t have lost sight, also, that Reds have won the trophy for the last two years and want to go on and complete a treble.
Wearside League club Windscale are also in County Cup action when they travel to Braithwaite from the Westmorland League.
A handsome 5-0 win last week put the Atoms top of the League, although that is likely to change this week-end when the chasing pack play catch-up games.
Cleator Moor Celtic are safely through to the second round of the Fred Conway County Cup after a 3-0 mid-week win over Whitehaven Miners, and have no game in the West Lancashire League tomorrow.
Neighbours Whitehaven resume their League programme with a home game against Eagley, the side who are a point and a place above them in the Premier Division table.
