MATCH PREVIEW: Trophy tie will be settled on the day

Workington take a break from league action on Saturday when they host Premier Division rivals, Hyde United, at Borough Park in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy (3pm).

The tie will be settled on the day with a penalty shoot-out introduced if the scores are level after ninety minutes.

It is one of five ‘all Premier Division’ encounters and the first of at least three meetings against Hyde this season. They will return to west Cumbria in December for the league fixture.

After the Reds Ladies exit from the Women’s FA Cup and the Development Squad’s defeat in the FA Youth Cup in the past week, this will be the last national competition open to the club and supporters will feel a win in the Trophy is needed to stimulate interest.

We have fell at the first hurdle in the two most recent seasons with Runcorn Linnets and Dunston both knocking us out of the competition at Borough Park when, it could be argued, our priorities lay elsewhere.

Since 1982, Reds and Hyde have met each thirty-two times in league action (NPL and National North) but the only cup tie between the clubs was nearly sixty-nine years ago when Workington emerged 5-1 winners in an FA Cup tie at Borough Park.

Danny Grainger will be hoping to name a more competitive squad than he did last week for the FC United game when up to eight players were unavailable. New recruit Jamie Devitt, who reached an FA Trophy Final at Wembley during his time at Grimsby Town, will be included in the squad.

The prize money on offer from the FA will see the winners pocket a cheque for £2,450 with the losers banking a sum of £625