MATCH PREVIEW: The same objective

Both Reds and Hednesford Town have the same objective over the final month of contrasting seasons.

Workington and The Pitmen need as many points as possible, from their remaining six games, in the quest to overtake the two teams above them in the table.

In our case, it is to avoid relegation whilst, at the other end of the Premier Division table, Hednesford need to catch FC United of Manchester and Hebburn Town as the race to become champions intensifies.

It is very close at both ends of the table, although there are probably more teams desperately fighting to avoid the drop.

Although we have met Hednesford a dozen times in the past – four times in National North (WDDL), seven times in the NPL Premier (LWWDLWL) and once in the FA Trophy (L) – Saturday’s fixture has that little extra riding on it compared to previous encounters.

Town are currently 3rd with 64 points from their 34 matches whilst we are 3rd (from bottom) with 36 points.

Back in August we fell to a 2-0 defeat at Keys Park with goals from Simeon Maye and Jonny Edwards securing the points for the hosts.

Billy Barr will go into the final batch of games without any further additions to the squad. The registration deadline passed on Thursday afternoon and the manager was unable to add to the group.

But he may have a few selection issues to sort through, and some of those not involved in the win at Hyde United may force their way into the squad on the back of Tuesday’s straightforward Cumberland Cup win over Kirkoswald.

The fixture has averaged 378 for Hednesford’s five previous to west Cumbria but we are hoping to top the 1,000 mark on Non-League Day. Town have been the best supported team in the Premier Division this season with the August clash at Keys Park drawing 1,740 through the Keys Park turnstiles.

Billy Barr and Kelvin Davies will deal with the fixture in their usual rational manner, the rest of us may be biting our nails throughout the afternoon!