MATCH PREVIEW: Play-offs action this week
Sixteen NPL teams may have missed out on the title, and automatic promotion, in their respective division but the promotion dream will become reality for four clubs by the end of the week.
Hopefully, Workington will be one of those clubs celebrating on Saturday but the end of season mini tournament has, too often, left Reds fans bemoaning their luck and suffering a hangover over the summer.
It won’t be any easier this week with Clitheroe arriving at Borough Park on Tuesday (7.45pm) for what promises to be another ‘hard-to-call’ encounter between two very good West Division sides.
The league encounters this term have favoured Clitheroe with the Blues registering their first ever victory at Borough Park at the end of August before the return at Shawbridge in January finished in a 1-1 draw.
The head-to-head, over twelve previous meetings, has Workington with 7 wins, Clitheroe on 3 and 2 matches drawn.
Should Tuesday’s action result in a draw, there will be extra time and a penalty shoot-out if required.
Both teams rested several players in Saturday’s final game of the regular season – Clitheroe’s second XI lost at home to Kidsgrove Athletic (1-3) whilst a makeshift Workington line-up won (4-0) in their home clash against Colne.
Clitheroe finished in 4th position with 64 points and eight of their nineteen wins were recorded on the road. Reds amassed 11 points more (75) thanks to 23 wins and 6 draws.
The winners of Tuesday’s encounter will be either away to Leek Town or home to Runcorn Linnets in Saturday’s final.
