The FA Carlsberg Trophy
'A proper cup tie'
By Chris Brereton - Friday, 09 January, 2009
Barrow v Workington
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
Second Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 10 January 2009
Holker Street Stadium
Winning clubs will receive £6,000 from The FA
Workington manager Darren Edmondson is expecting the sparks to fly at Holker Street on Saturday when his side face arch enemies Barrow in The FA Trophy.
The Second Round contest is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the season and Edmondson cannot wait for his side's trip to their local rivals - even though the remote nature of the rugged north-west means it is still a 54-mile journey south.
However, he also admitted he does not know whether Barrow's recent FA Cup run will have helped or hindered the Cumbrian side.
Barrow beat Eastbourne and Brentford on their way to the Third Round of The FA Cup but their dreams of a giantkilling were shattered last week by Premier League side Middlesbrough.
And Edmondson is hoping his side can also end Barrow's hopes of a Wembley appearance via The Trophy.
"It should be a really good, competitive game," he said. "They have a few ex-Workington and Carlisle players in their squad, so I don't think my team will need too much motivating.
"I am expecting a proper cup tie with total commitment from both sides, which is exactly how it should be.
"We like to go into every game we play confident that we can win. It has been a few weeks since we have played but we still believe we can do it.
"Their FA Cup run was brilliant for them and I applaud them for it and something like that can work both ways.
"It could make them down or it can give the whole club a lift, so it will be interesting to see how they cope."
Edmondson is also keen for his players to realise that The FA Trophy represents probably the best chance they will ever get of running out at Wembley Stadium.
He added: "Wembley is a big carrot dangling in front of us and I have told the players to remember that.
"It is still early days and there is no point dreaming too much about it but it would be a great honour for the boys - and for the whole club and town - if we could get there and that shouldn't be forgotten."