Cumberland Cup glory would be a fitting reward for Workington Reds’ battlers after a rollercoaster league season which ended with play-off heartbreak, believes joint boss Lee Andrews.

Reds play Northern League side Penrith in the final at Carlisle United’s Brunton Park tonight, 7pm kick-off.

And Andrews hopes his team can shrug off the disappointment of last week’s Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play-off semi-final to bring the cup home.

He said: “Everyone was understandably disappointed but we’ve had a week or so to get it out of our heads.

“I think the frustration will still be there, going out after finishing the way we did. But when you look back on the season the lads have been brilliant.

“You start the season wanting to win trophies and this was a competition we had targeted to win, which is why we’ve played strong teams throughout.

“It would be nice for the lads to get some sort of reward this season by winning a bit of silverware.”

The Bonny Blues last won the competition in 2010 and, with top scorer Martyn Coleman one of several players to have turned out for both clubs, there will be extra incentive to cause an upset.

Reds only progressed from a tight semi-final in the competition after a nerve wracking penalty shoot-out against Pirelli, so Andrews knows the threat lower-league opposition can pose.

He added: “It’s not a matter of just turning up, we know we’ll have to be on our game.

"I think they’ll have a point to prove because we’re the team in the higher division so we’re a scalp for them.

“You like to win any silverware and it would be especially good to win and get the bragging rights over Penrith. It will be a tough game because they are a decent team and physical so it will be hard work.”

Reds will be without skipper Gari Rowntree, who suffered a broken ankle in the play-off semi-final following a challenge that sent him over the touchline.

But with James Earl expected to be the only other absentee, due to a family funeral, an almost fully-fit squad will give Reds’ bosses a welcome headache for tonight’s game.

“It’s a difficult one, it will not be an easy game,” Andrews said.

“The lads who have got us to the final probably deserve the chance to play in it but we’ll be taking a full squad and making a decision.”