Last updated 19:39, Thursday, 20 March 2008

WORKINGTON Town kick off their National League Two season against Barrow Raiders at Derwent Park today (3pm ko).

Skipper Jamie Beaumont , Mark McCully, Iain Marsh and Taani Lavulavu are all expected to strengthen the side that lost out on the final play of the game at Keighley Cougars in the Northern Rail Cup last Sunday.

Coach Dave Rotheram said: “It’s so important to get off on the right foot. Barrow are coming off the back of a good 24-16 win against Widnes last weekend and Dave Clark will have them fired up for this one.

“We have to deny them possession and field position. That’s where we’re going to win the game.

“We forced it too much at Keighley and still came within seconds of winning the game. We only returned 55 per cent of ball control and will have to improve on that.”

Rotheram was philosophical after watching his side lose out in the last play of the game at Keighley Cougars.

Town seemed to have the game in the bag at 22-14 but the hosts hit back with a try at the death.

Rotheram said: “I’m not knocking the effort of our boys in a game we lost on the last play of the game. We should have just slowed it down a bit near the end when eight points up and shouldn’t have taken the risks that we did.”

The result saw Town pick up their third bonus point but left them bottom of the Northern Rail group.

Town are away at Gateshead on Easter Monday (3pm ko).

Town Flyer - Monday, C Kerr, Silloth, B5750; Tuesday, R Blair, Harrington, A6218; Wednesday, P Cairns, Workington, B9283; yesterday, D Pattinson, Great Broughton, D4818; today, L Bainbridge, Seaton, B7468.