MATCH PREVIEW: First ever NPL clash

There will be little respite for Northern Premier League clubs over the Bank Holiday weekend with the majority of clubs ready for action on Monday, just forty-eight hours after games on Saturday.

Reds, hoping to bounce back after a disappointing defeat at Ashton United, welcome unbeaten Hebburn Town to west Cumbria for the inaugural NPL encounter between the clubs.

They have started life in the Premier Division so well and, after winning their opening four games, dropped their first points of the season in Saturday’s draw against Basford United. 

They came up as NPL East champions last season and are still riding on a wave of optimism after an ‘incredible’ last few years of success and progress.

Monday’s game is the first of two encounters, possibly three, over the next week or so with the league encounter followed by the FA Cup tie, also at Borough Park, on Saturday.

Mark Fell will have a stronger squad to select from on Monday with two of the senior players back in the fold and the possibly of a new, vastly experienced recruit, joining the club.

The manager has been in contact with the player’s agent and was hopeful of getting a deal done ahead of kick-off on Monday.

Reds were short of numbers on Saturday and, for the second time this term, could only name four on the bench.

Mark has used twenty players so far this season but only six of those – Alex Mitchell, Josh Galloway, Tom Wilkinson, Steven Rigg, Jamie Allen and Kai Nugent – have remained ever-present.

Kick-off: 3pm