MATCH PREVIEW: The last waltz

Reds will play their 47th and final game of the season on Tuesday when they take on neighbours Penrith in the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup Final at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park (7pm).

Penrith, who finished 14th in the Northern League, have had a nice relaxed week off to prepare for the final as Workington battled through two gruelling games in the play-offs.  They had been fighting a relegation battle for most of the season but some excellent results in the last few weeks saw them retain their 1st Division status.

They finished their campaign with an excellent 3-1 win over the champions, Newton Aycliffe.

Their route to the final was quite straightforward with a home win over Gosforth (3-1) followed by away victories over Keswick (3-0) and Whitehaven (2-0).

Reds reached their 39th final with a narrow win at Windscale (2-1), followed by home successes over Carlisle United (4-2) and holders Carlisle City (4-0). Sharing the goals for Reds on their way to the final have been Obz Mugalula (3), Lewis Reilly (2), Steven Rigg (2), Brad Hubbold, Reuben Jerome and Josh Palmer.

Both teams were handed a bye in the first round.

Darren Edmondson featured for Reds in the 2007 Cumberland Cup Final as a player then, two years later, was manager of the side which inflicted a 2-0 defeat……upon Penrith!  His Blues team will include several players with strong Workington connections including Aaran Taylor, Jonny Murray, Andy Murray-Jones, Adam Main and Matty Moynan.

The game will mark Danny Grainger’s first return to Brunton Park as a manager and his first overseeing a team in the final. 

Workington’s last appearance in the final was six years ago and the opponents then were Penrith.  Martyn Coleman opened the scoring for Jim Nichols’ side that night before Scott Allison equalised thirteen minutes from time to take the game into extra time.  The match seemed to be heading for a penalty shoot-out until up popped Dav Symington to score a very late winner.

John Mulligan will be in charge on Tuesday with Kevin Mulraine and Matthew Rogerson the assistants.  Mark Hunter will stand as the fourth official.

Tickets will be available from the main ticket office at Brunton Park up until kick-off:

Adult: £4, Concession (including U16s): £2

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