MATCH PREVIEW: Cup action under the lights
- Paul Armstrong
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
It might be the last full ninety minutes under the lights so Reds’ Cumberland Cup tie v. Unisun Athletic at Borough Park on Tuesday (7.45pm) may hold some significance.
Nevertheless, it is still an important fixture for both Reds and the County League Premier Division outfit, based in Carlisle.
Athletic will see it as an opportunity to cause an upset whilst Reds will be hoping to win a match on home soil after suffering four defeats in their six most recent Borough Park outings.
Unisun Athletic have been members of the Cumberland County League for the past decade, six seasons in the First Division and four in the Premier, after gaining promotion, as champions, four years ago. They have improved year on year and could emerge as title contenders this season having remained unbeaten throughout the first half of their Premier Division campaign.
One familiar face in the Athletic squad is that of Kingsley Grandison who had a spell with Reds a decade or so ago and scored his first goals for us in the Cumberland Cup.
Athletic had an emphatic 7-0 win over Eden Valley in the First Round and then emerged impressive 1-0 victors at Maryport Athletic in the Second. Workington entered the competition in the previous round and cantered to an 8-1 victory over Whitehaven.
Billy Barr will rest some of his players but his options are limited so most of the group will be involved. Dav Symington, Charlie Barnes, and Tom Stephenson remain sidelined through injury whilst Steven Swinglehurst is a doubt.
Michael Studholme will referee the quarter-final tie at Borough Park with the other fixtures in the last eight taking place either on Tuesday or in the next week:
Carlisle City (Holders) v. Windscale
Kirkoswald v. Carlisle United
Cleator Moor Celtic v. Penrith
