MATCH PREVIEW: Bank Holiday ‘derby’ for Reds
For the second season running, Reds will launch the New Year with a game against promotion rivals Clitheroe.
They will make the 121 miles journey on Monday to face sixth placed Clitheroe at Shawbridge for the second of their two fixtures over the festive period.
Twelve months ago, it was 2nd v. 3rd and a first half goal from Sam Smith settled a closely fought encounter in front of an 800 (plus) crowd. It completed a league double for Reds after an earlier 2-0 success in Lancashire.
This time, though, it will be Clitheroe who will have the opportunity to record home and away wins having won at Borough Park back in August. That game was also settled by a solitary goal with Reece Webb-Foster’s superb strike securing Clitheroe a deserved first ever league win on Cumbrian soil.
Sam Smith should return to the squad after serving his one match suspension but ‘honeymooner’ David Symington will be an absentee, whilst the fitness of three others will be assessed before kick-off.
The Christmas/New Year schedule hasn’t been too demanding this season with Reds playing on Boxing Day, after a three week lay-off because of the weather, and then training twice before Monday’s important fixture.
Reds’ winning run has kept them in contention but they are still adrift of both Macclesfield (seven points) and Leek Town (two points) going into the second half of the league programme, and the former both have what appear to be ‘easier’ matches as we welcome 2023.
- Workington will be back at Borough Park on Saturday, hosting Prescot Cables.
