MATCH PREVIEW: Reds north-east bound

Workington will play at Woodhorn Lane, Ashington for the second successive year on Saturday (3pm) but it will be a much-changed Reds squad to the one that won impressively there twelve months ago.

Lewis Reilly netted all three goals in a comfortable 3-0 victory but only Dav Symington, of the current squad, started the game against the Black & Whites although Ceiran Casson, Brad Hubbold, Steven Rigg and Greg McCaragher did also feature as substitutes.

Mark Fell has gradually rebuilt the squad during pre-season and, whilst recruitment will be ongoing for the next fortnight and beyond, the squad is far healthier than it was at Whitehaven a month ago.

It will be another decent test for the newly assembled team who have done well on home soil during the friendlies but have faltered fielding weaker teams on the road. A journey of well over a hundred miles – much further for our Lancashire based players – and strong opposition will challenge our mentality outside the comfort zone.

Ashington recorded a fine 3-2 victory at neighbours Morpeth Town recently and have netted plenty of goals, and won three away games in their friendlies, to date. Their season proper starts next week with an FA Cup tie at Shildon.

Last season saw them return to the NPL for the first time since 1969 and they finished 14th in the East Division with 46 points from 38 games. The feeling is they will be challenging for the play-offs, at least, this term.

We have tenuous links with Ashington of course with former Workington player, Andy Coyles, now joint head coach of the team working in tandem with Richie Hill. And Connor Thomson spent time at Borough Park during the ’14-15 season but was injured in pre-season and may not feature on Saturday.

Venue: Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, NE63 9FW

Admission: Adult – £6, Concession – £3, Student – £3, U16 – £2

Kit: blue shirts, blue shorts, blue socks.