The FA Trophy could provide Workington Reds with a timely boost for Christmas, both on and off the field.
If Reds can win their first round proper tie at home to Ramsbottom, they will pick up £6,000 just 10 days before Christmas and boost their winnings in the competition to more than £18,000.
Workington will be looking for their sixth win in knock-out football this season, and chairman John Mackay feels that their progress in the competition will restore confidence for important league matches ahead.
Mackay and his board of directors have backed the management duo of Dave Hewson and Lee Andrews as they came under increasing criticism from fans, dismayed at their position next to bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier Division.
"Nobody is taking anything for granted in the FA Trophy because we’ve seen what can happen already this season with a home draw against Kidsgrove in the FA Cup and defeat in the replay," said Mackay.
"But if we can get through on December 15, it will be a really big help for us as a club ahead of Christmas and also another confidence boost for the players.
"After everyone was so low after the home defeat by Grantham, we needed to be lifted and that result at Stalybridge was really good for morale.
"The way the players responded against a team in the top ten emphasised there is plenty of spirit and I am sure we have enough in the squad to get us out of trouble in the league."
As Reds enter December, it’s in complete contrast to last season when they were heading to second-top by the end of the month.
At the moment they are second bottom, and only through a better goal difference than North Ferriby.
But Workington do have matches in hand – up to five in some cases – on every team in the league apart from Witton Albion, who have played one less.
Their clash at Borough Park was postponed in October because of a waterlogged pitch and no new date has been announced.
The match at Farsley Celtic, postponed on Saturday because of the FA Trophy trip to Stalybridge, has also to be re-arranged as will the league clash on December 15 at home to Warrington Town.
Another league fixture, at South Shields, has been tentatively arranged for Saturday, December 29 when there are no league fixtures.
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