MATCH PREVIEW: League points a priority

Reds have to put to one side the distraction of the FA Cup as they welcome Basford United to west Cumbria for what is an important NPL Premier Division encounter at Borough Park.

Sandwiched been two cup weekends, Basford make the long trip from Nottingham for only their second visit to Workington. And the two clubs are desperate for the three points after indifferent starts to their respective league campaigns.

Our only two previous meetings took place during the 2018-19 season and Basford took the honours by completing a league double at our expense. They inflicted a 3-2 defeat upon us at Greenwich Avenue and won even more comfortably (3-0) in the return on our patch.

That was United’s first season in the NPL’s top division and they finished a commendable 7th whilst we suffered what was our most recent relegation.

Indeed, Basford’s NPL record is very good in what is their eighth season in the League. At Step 4 they finished 4th, 6th and 1st (amassing 100 points as champions) and 7th, 4th 2nd and 20th at Step 3. Last season was spent in the Southern League, after a lateral move, and finished 15th.

The fact that they haven’t won a league game this season makes them an even more dangerous opponent and we have often struggled against Steve Kittrick’s teams in the past.

Reds had their first match-free midweek of the season but the injury situation hasn’t improved too much and the squad will be similar to that on duty last week for the cup.

Kick-off 3pm