MATCH PREVIEW: Re-arranged league action for Reds

With most of the NPL West teams in FA Trophy action at the weekend, Workington have a good opportunity to make up ground in the division with their re-arranged encounter against Skelmersdale United one of just two league games to go ahead.

After the midweek matches, Reds find themselves in 8th position with Skem currently 12th.

They returned to the NPL this term after a few seasons in the North West Counties and have a made a reasonable start to the new campaign. Richard Brodie has recently taken over as manager and now embarks on a career on the other side of the dressing room.

He can reflect on many years in the game, and a host of clubs, but now has to adapt to the next stage and put that experience and great knowledge to good use in his first managerial appointment at this level.

Skelmersdale United have already won at City of Liverpool and Hanley Town so will have no qualms about their trip to Cumbria. Results at ‘home’ have been indifferent so far, though, and they have suffered four league defeats and another in the FA Cup.

Danny Grainger has had the luxury of two training sessions and no midweek fixture to contend with. The squad lost another body during the week with James Hooper signing for Runcorn Linnets with the time spent on the M6 one of the reasons for a switch to a club nearer to home. Ironically, one of his first games with Linnets could be the league fixture between the two at Borough Park!

There are still fitness concerns with Bobby Carroll and Greg McCaragher so it will be a similar squad on duty that featured at Bootle last week.

Skem last visited west Cumbria five years ago and, without an away win all season at that point, emerged deserved 1-0 winners on that occasion.

Kick-off is the usual 3pm on Saturday.