Workington Reds are expecting their biggest crowd of the season tomorrow at Borough Park with the visit of NPL Premier Division leaders Macclesfield Town.
The Silkmen bring a sizeable following and Reds, currently on a three-match unbeaten run – with two victories in succession – hope to top 1,000 through the turnstiles.
But despite their draw at FC United and victories at Mickleover and at home to Basford, Reds boss Mark Fell still regards this as a free hit.
Fell said: “I think I’m like every manager in the league going into this one in that people don’t expect you to win so you take it as a free hit,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean we’ve no belief because we have looked at the opposition, as we always do, and have studied closely and hope there are things we can exploit.
“I was very pleased with the whole team’s performance on Tuesday and although Lucas Wane took a heavy knock I’m expecting him to be fit. Ruben Grewal missed out through illness but he should be ready again, and I’m soon going to have a headache on who to leave out – but managers don’t mind that.”
Macclesfield will arrive at Borough Park on the back of their first defeat of the season – 2-1 at Mickleover on Tuesday – and manager Robbie Savage is pondering a change of formation.
Savage said: “It was a brilliant game for the neutral and could have finished 10-7 to us. We were far too open and we missed too many chances throughout the game, but I’m not going to be hard on this, they have put us thirteen points clear.
“But massive credit to Mickleover, to put that performance together on the back of six straight defeats was outstanding. If they perform like that every week they will stay up, no doubt about it.
“It’s on to Workington now, a team we’ve had some good battle with in the past and is a fixture we have been looking forward to.”
In the Northern League Carlisle City are the only Cumbrian team on the road as they travel to Guisborough Town.
Manager Dan Kirkup will be hoping his side can come up with a repeat of their FA Vase tie when they were 1-0 winners. League wins have been few and far between since then and Kirkup wants his team to produce their Vase or Fred Conway County Cup form.
Incidentally last Saturday’s postponed derby with Kendal Town at Gillford Park, which had been rearranged for Tuesday December 17, has now been re-rearranged again and will not take place until Saturday March 1.
Tomorrow Kendal are back at Parkside Road for the visit of Birtley Town, a side who haven’t lived up to the promise of last season when they were promotion candidates. They languish in 18th place with just five wins in their 23 games.
Kendal boss Jimmy Marshall will expect a positive performance from his side to recharge their own play-off prospects this time round.
Penrith also have a home fixture with a visit from Marske United in tenth, who are four places better off in the table with a five-point advantage, but from two more games.
Consistency has been the main thing lacking from Penrith’s performances this season, but that also applies to player availability which has been badly hit over the season by injuries and suspensions.
In the West Lancashire League there’s a cracking game in prospect for Cleator Moor Celtic who host unbeaten leaders Tempest United.
Celtic have picked up some valuable points of late, including a dramatic 5-3 home win over Blackpool Wren Rovers two weeks ago.
Manager Gareth Agnew would like nothing better than to be in charge of the first team to topple Tempest, but it won’t be easy.
Whitehaven are still at the foot of the table and desperate for points to kickstart their season. Tomorrow they travel to Lostock St Gerard’s who are eight points better off than the west Cumbrians from the same number of games.
Manager Carl Short will be hoping the game is down to five points late on Saturday afternoon.
In the Wearside League Windscale are now fifth in the table and they travel to West Auckland reserves who are 12th, some 15 points behind.
It’s one that manager Stephen Fawcett will have targeted for three points as they seek to close the five-point gap on leaders Durham Corinthians.
