Workington Reds looking to bounce back

All good things must come to an end – even long unbeaten runs at football!

The secret is to bounce back as quickly as possible, at the first opportunity, and start another run.

In the case of Workington Reds, after losing for the first time in 10 games at Warrington Rylands on Saturday, they have an immediate chance to find the winning groove again.

Reds host Cleethorpes for the first time at Borough Park this afternoon and the league newcomers are in hot form. Their manager pipped Billy Barr to the Manager of the Month for March.

They have come with such a good late run that they are in with a shout of grabbing the final play-off place, although it will be reliant on others slipping up as well as them continuing their good run.

Despite starting the month with defeat against Whitby Town, a seven-game unbeaten run throughout the remainder of March saw Cleethorpes climb to eighth in the Northern Premier League table.

That run included four wins, two of which came against sides in the top half.

Although a late push for the top five would rely on the teams above slipping up, it has been a memorable campaign for Craig Rouse’s men nonetheless.

Reds had won six and drawn three of their NPL games before Saturday’s disappointing end to the run at Rylands so this afternoon’s clash could be really interesting.

In some way Saturday had been a free hit for Reds with all the teams below them losing and no damage was done by the Rylands defeat, although Hyde did pick-up a point at Guiseley on Saturday.

But it’s important that with four games left to play Reds pick up the pieces. They have dome magnificently to climb off the bottom and out of the drop zone – but they are not safe yet.

Most of their rivals at the bottom have key games against clubs also struggling to survive and the full list of remaining fixtures are as follows in what looks an any three from four situation.