By Martin Morgan

Last updated 13:33, Tuesday, 22 July 2008

Workington Reds will cast off the friendly tag attached to Thursday night’s Cumbrian derby at Barrow, reckons skipper Graham Anthony.

Workington Reds v Burscough; Tuesday 15th April 2008: PAUL

The Bluebirds’ promotion to Blue Square Premier means that the Holker Street clash is likely to be the only meeting between the traditional Cumbrian rivals this season.

“It’s another good game for us,” said Anthony, a former Barrow midfielder. “It’s classed as a friendly, but I don’t think it will be a friendly against them.

“It will probably be like a normal game, and will be a good test of our fitness and football.”

The clash was originally set for August 2, a week before the season kicks off, but Barrow agreed to play Accrington Stanley instead, prompting a switch of the Reds’ match.

Reds have made a bright start to their pre-season campaign, winning their opening two friendlies and then losing out on penalties to Annan in Athletic’s four-team tournament on Saturday, after holding the new Scottish League outfit to 2-2 after 90 minutes. They went on to beat Spartans 3-0 on Sunday.

Boss Darren Edmondson is looking to add new faces to join fresh recruits Kevin Gray, the former Carlisle United skipper, and ex-Gretna kid Dan Robinson, at Borough Park.

“Teams are signing players left, right and centre,” said the skipper. “We could do with probably two more decent players to make competition for places tougher.