Recap

East Cumbria hosted a pre-season friendly at the Old Showfield but it finished in stalemate against the West Cumbrian visitors.

Both teams were below strength and it showed with a disjointed performance and few clear-cut scoring opportunities created.

There was plenty of effort and commitment, and the match fitness will be invaluable, but there was a clear lack of quality in the final third and the lack of finesse was glaringly obvious.

Neither side would have been satisfied with their possession stats as the ball was continuously given away cheaply.

Reds went close to opening the scoring when a powerful Owen Birkett header rattled the crossbar with Tom Banks beaten.

And KO’s best chance came from a fine header at the other.  Sean Elliott made good contact with the ball and would have scored had it not been for a fantastic diving save from Aaron Lister.

Neither ‘keeper was seriously tested in the second half although there were goal mouth scrambles at either end with the defences, generally,  coming out on top.

The match was refereed by former Reds’ assistant manager, Kenny Brown, who controlled matters in his unique, inimitable style.

Both teams will be looking for improvement in their final practice games ahead of the season proper, Kirkoswald in the Westmorland League and Reds in the Cumberland County League.

Team: Lister, Percival, Birkett, Williamson, Bell, Davidson, Stephenson, Grisdale, Cooke, Connor, Scott.  Substitutes – Bland, McKay, Law, Schofield (all used).