MATCH PREVIEW: Coast to coast

After Tuesday’s postponement at Carlisle City in midweek, Reds will be hoping Saturday’s weather is not as bad as forecast and the friendly at Whitley Bay goes ahead as scheduled.

It will be Workington’s first visit to Hillheads Park for thirteen years and the fourth game of their disrupted pre-season schedule. Back in 2010, they were held to a 2-2 draw in the north east after Bay recovered from a two-goal deficit with two in the last few minutes.

Andy Murray-Jones’ first goal for the club and a Shaun Vipond penalty saw Reds cantering towards a comfortable pre-season win only for the hosts to stage a late recovery. It proved a good work-out for both teams and was superbly refereed by Michael Oliver.

Whitley Bay finished in fourth position in the Northern League last season despite winning 22 of their 38 league games. They have played five friendlies so far, winning twice, losing twice and drawing the other.

Bay’s league programme starts next week, Penrith are the first visitors, and they also start their FA Cup campaign with home advantage against Garforth Town.

We were regular opponents in the Northern Premier League for seven seasons during the eighties and nineties but Bay finished above us in the table on no fewer than six occasions.

There were also two FA Cup ties between the clubs during that era with a win for each side recorded on Bay’s home patch.

Danny Grainger will be without two or three regulars but will take a strong squad to the north east.

Postcode: NE25 8HR

Kick-off: 3pm