MATCH PREVIEW: Third time lucky?

Reds will travel to play FC United of Manchester on Tuesday – the third meeting between the sides this season.

The re-arranged NPL Premier Division encounter will take place at Broadhurst Park (7.45pm) and is a crucial fixture for both clubs.  A win for Mark Beesley’s Reds will take them back to the top of the division, a win for the Workington Reds won’t alter our position but would reduce the gap at the bottom.

Earlier in the season, we held FC United to a goalless draw at Borough Park but, a few weeks later, they returned to west Cumbria and ended our interest in the FA Trophy.

The rivalry between the clubs started during the 2014-15 season when we were title rivals, sort of.  FC United ended the campaign as worthy champions with 92 points and we finished as runners-up with two points less.

After that historic campaign, FC competed for four seasons in National North before returning to the NPL in 2019, and they have operated from the Premier Division for the past seven seasons, the last three of which has seen the return of our rivalry.

It might be the last encounter for a while, on the evidence of the current league table, which is a shame because it is a fixture we look forward to – home or away! 

FC United are currently third with 43 points, twenty-six points more than we have obtained so far.  On Saturday they emerged 1-0 winners at Leek Town, their thirteenth league success to date.

Our two previous visits to Moston have been special occasions, a 3-1 win and a 2-2 draw, in the ’23-24 and ’24-25 seasons respectively, matches watched by excellent four-figure crowds.  It promises to be another special evening this time.

Billy Barr was hoping to add to his depleted group ahead of the game but, more than likely, will go with the same squad that finished Saturday’s game at Whitby Town.

Josh Galloway and Ruben Grewal will be looking forward to the fixture and the opportunity to turn out against one of their former clubs.

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