Workington Reds head into final three fixtures

Assistant manager Lee Andrews. Picture: Brett Thurlow

Into the home straight and all seven candidates for relegation from NPL Premier Division have three games left to play.

Workington had a setback over Easter with a defeat on Saturday at Warrington Rylands, to end a fine nine-match unbeaten run which lifted them out of the bottom three for the first time in months.

Then on Monday they had to battle back from an early setback to earn a point against Cleethorpes with a late equaliser from Dan Hopper.

It left them still out of the drop zone, but fourth bottom a point ahead of Morpeth, level with Hyde and just a point behind Rushall and Whitby.

Although effectively any three from seven for the drop, it looks increasingly likely that Prescot and Stocksbridge will be two of them but it could all go down to the last fixtures on April 25.

Reds manager Billy Barr is hoping that safety can be assured before then and Reds fans, players and officials can enjoy the final game at Borough Park before redevelopment works start.

But Ashton United and Warrington Town stand in Reds’ way before that last fixture against Leek Town – the only home game left.

Barr’s men had to go into action over Easter at some point without Jack Dickinson, Luke Ellis (missing for both), Brad Carroll, Steven Swinglehurst and Dav Symington.

For the Cleethorpes game Carroll was named on the bench but unable to come on and assistant manager Lee Andrews (who will be 42 before the final game) made up the substitutes without being used.

Barr is now desperately hoping that most of those on the injured list will be available for Saturday’s trip to Ashton, one of the season’s main under-performers currently in 11^th place, one place higher than Warrington Town who host Reds on April 18.

The final three fixtures for the seven involved in the fight to avoid the drop are: