Next step -Silverlands

Reds are faced with an awkward journey for their penultimate away game of the season with the trip to Buxton scheduled for the Bank Holiday weekend (Saturday, 3pm).

It’s down to the last three games now with the home fixture on Monday sandwiched between two matches on 4G playing surfaces – first Buxton, then concluding a disastrous campaign at Scarborough the following week.

Three tough games in eight days and, as what appears to have been the case all season, injuries and suspensions playing a huge part in Lee Andrews’ team selection.

Reds will definitely be without the suspended Scott Allison and injured duo Sam Smith and Josh Calvert with doubts, also, over the fitness of Niall Cowperthwaite and skipper, Gari Rowntree.

Play-off chasing Buxton are currently in 6th position and will be hoping for maximum points at our expense ahead of their derby match at Matlock Town and the home fixture v. Warrington Town on the final day.

They also need fifth placed Gainsborough Trinity to drop points in their remaining games.

Back in August, Reds had to rely on a late Sam Joel equaliser to salvage a point against the Bucks after Jude Oyibo had opened the scoring in the Borough Park encounter.

It will be Reds first appearance at the Tarmac Silverlands arena since the switch from grass but they may have noted that Buxton have lost six times on their new surface this season.

For those unable to travel to Derbyshire, BBC Radio Cumbria are providing live commentary and Paul Armstrong will be operating the Live Scoreboard facility via the club’s website.