MATCH PREVIEW: Three derby matches ahead

Workington will play three ‘derby’ matches over the twelve-day festive period as they embark on the second half of their forty-two-match league programme.

They make their shortest journey of the season on Saturday for the return fixture with Lancaster City, hoping to get some tangible reward following successive odd-goal defeats.  And that will be followed with matches against north east duo Morpeth Town (at home on Boxing Day) and Hebburn Town (away on New Year’s Day).

Back in August, Reds and the Dolly Blues shared two goals in a 1-1 draw with Nic Evangelinos grabbing a stoppage time leveller after Ceiran Casson had put Reds ahead.  It was the thirty-third meeting between the clubs at NPL level and, in a closely fought series, City have won one more game than us – twelve Lancaster successes compared to eleven victories recorded by the Cumbrians.

Ahead of the game, City occupy 9th position with 28 points whilst Reds are three points behind in 14th.  The importance of the fixture is there for all to see with City keen to maintain the gap whilst a Workington victory could push them into the top half of the table and level on points with Chris Willcock’s side.

Forty-seven years ago, Reds obtained their very first point in the Northern Premier League following a goalless draw against City at Borough Park. And 0-0 draws have proved to be one of the most common score lines in the series, with five recorded so far.

But meetings go back further than the late seventies and we first crossed swords in the Lancashire Combination days in the early 1900s, followed by regular meetings in The FA Cup.  We have also met in Conference North, NPL Challenge Cup, NPL Presidents’ Cup and Conference North.

Postcode: LA1 5PE

Kick-off: 3pm