MATCH PREVIEW: Feast of football

Borough Park is the place to be this weekend with a feast of football to round off the 2024-25 season.

Reds conclude their Northern Premier League campaign on Saturday when play-off bound Ashton United travel to Cumbria for the Premier Division encounter (3pm).

And, on Sunday (same time) there will be a charity game between two teams of ex. Reds’ players with some of our former greats turning out at the ground, with proceeds going to three special charities.

First things first, though, and we sign off a disappointing, topsy-turvy campaign with a NPL fixture both sides will be keen to win.

Reds could move up several places in the table if other results fall in our favour whilst Ashton will be looking to build some momentum ahead of Tuesday’s play-off semi-final. 

Steve Cunningham’s side faltered slightly in the run-in but deserve to be in the top five after a good solid campaign.  Included in their twenty wins of the regular season, was a 3-0 score line against Reds back in August.  That maintained their overall dominance in the series.

Saturday’s encounter will be the thirtieth meeting between the Reds of Hurst Cross and the Borough Park version, with Ashton emerging winners on fourteen occasions compared to ten Workington victories.

Without wishing to put the kiss of death on matters, the Workington v. Ashton United fixture has always produced goals at Borough Park (no fewer than fifty-five in fourteen matches) and there has never been a goalless draw between the two clubs.

Billy Redden and Brian Dawson will field a similar squad to the one which lost at Morpeth Town on Monday, with Jake Allan and Ruben Grewal unlikely to return following their recent injuries although Charlie Barnes should come back into contention.

The support throughout the season has been amazing and record numbers have passed through the turnstiles.  Let’s give the players and staff a good send off with another bumper attendance.