Workington Reds return to League action in the NPL Premier Division tomorrow with a home game against Ilkeston Town.
The visitors are in good form and have been selected by Reds boss Mark Fell as potential play-off candidates at the end of the season.
They moved up to sixth in the table on Tuesday night when they scored a 2-1 win at Morpeth Town, who were Reds victims in the FA Trophy last Saturday.
Reds will be without Jamie Allen, who is with Montserrat on international duty, while Ceiran Casson is still recovering from an ankle injury.
Ilkeston manager Ian Deakin praised his side for the way they had responded to a surprise defeat in the FA Trophy to record the win at Morpeth.
“I think that happens at times against a team from the League below but it was important we responded from that and got the result at Morpeth.
“We have a quality squad and I think we will be competitive against everyone we come up against and we will be going to Workington, another long trip for us, trying to win the game,” he said.
In the Northern League all three Cumbrian clubs are on recovery missions after defeats on their last outings.
Carlisle City host Whitley Bay after being given a little bit of extra time to contemplate, and work on, Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at West Allotment Celtic when Tuesday’s trip to Newcastle Blue Star was washed out.
Manager Dan Kirkup was really disappointed with that defeat and expects a big response tomorrow at home to Whitley Bay. City are 12th and Bay lie 13th, two points behind but with two games in hand.
Kendal Town would have bursty into the top five with a win at Seaham Red Star last week but after leading three times lost 4-3 to a side struggling near the bottom of the Division.
Jimmy Marshall is another manager looking for a response when the Mintcakes are back ion action at home to North Shields.
The visitors are sixth in the table, one ahead of Kendal but with two more points from the same number of games.
Penrith boss Darren Edmondson was certainly happier than his two local rivals despite his side’s most recent League defeat 10 days ago. They put up a gutsy show at title-chasing Boro Rangers before going under 1-0.
He got players back from injury and again on Saturday was able to give valuable game time to returning players in a 4-0 County Cup win over Kirkoswald.
Penrith, down to 15th in the table, travel to fifth-placed Werst Auckland tomorrow. Their hosts are nine points better off but from three more games.
In North West Counties North Division Holker Old Boys are top on goal difference from Atherton LR but don’t have a game tomorrow.
Windscale also don’t have a fixture tomorrow but are at home on Wednesday to Bishop Auckland Reserves.
In the West Lancashire League Cleator Moor Celtic host Rossendale and Whitehaven entertain Lostock St Gerard’s.
