It couldn’t be a bigger contrast for Workington Reds tomorrow – after taking on the League leaders last week they face bottom side Blyth Spartans.
Mark Fell’s side put up a battling display against Macclesfield before going down to a 91st minute goal.
Something similar will be asked for against Blyth, hopefully to erase the memory of defeat to the Spartans which was the north-east side’s first win earlier in the campaign.
Reds could be boosted by the return to action of skipper Dav Symington and defender Jordan Little, both of whom have spent considerable time on the sidelines through injury.
Blyth changed their manager a month ago when Michael Connor ended a long and successful association in charge of Blyth Town to take over at the Spartans.
He’s still looking for his first win and has drawn twice in six games, one of them on Tuesday when they gave away a two-goal lead against FC United.
Reds cannot take them lightly, and Fell will be looking to see a repeat of the Macclesfield performance, with the right result this time.
There’s a massive game in prospect for Carlisle City when they travel to Crook Town in the third round of the FA Vase.
The club has never been further and are bidding to reach the last 16 of the national competition for the first time.
Manager Dan Kirkup should have a near full-strength side to take to the North East with Sam Smith expected to return.
Kirkup has a new assistant in place, McAuley Musgrave, and the manager was hugely impressed with the coaching session he put on ahead of the tie.
“He’s just come back from Norway where he’d been coaching and as he was based in Carlisle I just contacted him to see if he would be interested in joining us.
“He agreed and after seeing the session he put on Thursday I can’t wait to work with him, starting at Crook,” said Kirkup.
Both Penrith and Kendal Town have really big Northern League games.
Penrith are at home to West Auckland while Kendal also have home advantage against Newcastle Benfield.
Penrith (13th) are six points behind West Auckland (9th) but have two games in hand.
With the visitors just two points off a play-off place it shows how tight the Division One table is this season,
Kendal face an in-form Blue Star who have surged into fourth place just four point behind the top two Redcar Athletic and Blyth Town.
The Mintcakes were in action in mid-week when they won 3-1 at Second Division side Ryton and Crawcrook Albion with goals from Tom Kilifin (2) and Matt Dudley.
It was a Brookes Mileson Trophy game and manager Jimmy Marshall took the opportunity to blood Jamie Looker and Clayton Brown, who were making their senior debuts.
In the North West Counties First Division North Holker Old Boys have slipped to ninth after a spell at the top. Tomorrow they visit ninth in the table Ashton Athletic.
Whitehaven can take a little breather with no game in the West Lancashire League after the resignation of Carl Short.
Tom Powell has temporary charge of bottom of the table Haven who return to action next Saturday with a delayed Richardson Cup-tie at Turton.
Cleator Moor Celtic play their Richardson Cup-tie at Fulwood Amateurs.
In theory Gareth Agnew’s side should fear nobody after a superb result last week when they administered the first defeat of the season on leaders Tempest United.
That leaves the Wearside League where Windscale are without a fixture.
