MATCH PREVIEW: Bridging the gap
Having lost in each of the last two meetings on their home patch, Bamber Bridge will feel they are due a home win against Workington.
Reds have won 2-1 at Irongate in each of the last two seasons, and would have been confident of making a hat-trick of victories, had it not been for that much-discussed injury list.
’Brig will be keen to be playing at home again after losing in midweek which, in turn, was on the back of two eventful away trips. They were 3-0 ahead at Emley recently but the match was abandoned because of fog.
Then, last Saturday, they were caught in a traffic jam en route to Whitby, so kick-off was delayed until 1615.
To then lose at home to Warrington Town, having done so well in those away games, may have affected confidence, slightly.
So, both teams go into the fixture desperate for a return to winning ways. The hosts haven’t won in five outings whilst Reds have drawn two and lost two of their four most recent matches.
The current standings see Reds in 9th position with 21 points whilst Jamie Milligan’s side languish in the bottom four with 10 points to date.
They have beaten Ashton United and Alfreton Town at home and draws have been obtained against FC United of Manchester, Hyde United, Curzon Ashton and Whitby Town.
Sadly, they made early exits in the FA Cup and Trophy against Trafford and Guiseley respectively.
Thirty years ago, ‘Brig finished Premier Division champions whilst Reds were 16th in the division below.
Last season, they finished in 12th position, seven points better than us, although they actually lost one more game (18) than we did.
Saturday’s encounter will be the nineteenth NPL meeting and ‘Brig hold the bragging rights, to date, with nine wins to their credit, compared to the six Reds have recorded.
Jamie Allen is one of the few players to have represented both clubs with Stuart Todhunter, Paul Lloyd, Rowan Roache and Aaron Taylor some of the others. Wayne Harrison has managed both.
