Elbra at full strength for tonight’s title showdown
Last updated 11:37, Friday, 02 May 2008
ELLENBOROUGH pledge they are still fighting fit as they gear up for an energy-sapping ninth game in four weeks tonight against leaders Kells with the Cumberland League title on the line.
Extended cup runs saw the Maryport outfit develop a huge fixture backlog, but a fantastic run of victories has seen them move up the Division One table.
And a win tonight at Solway Park (6.30pm) will mean the hosts pip Kells at the post for the title.
“If you’d said at the start of this run of matches that we would be in this position, I would probably have thought it unlikely,” admitted Ellenborough chairman Wilson Smith. But we have been quite lucky with injuries, and I think we’ll have a full squad to pick from tonight.
“A draw would be enough for Kells to take the title, while we have to win. Kells will come prepared but we are also ready.
“We are putting no pressure on the lads. If they come up with a win, it will be unbelievable.”
Gary Murdock’s team drew the first league game of the season at Hensingham, and narrowly lost the second against Seaton, where Smith felt Ellenborough were unlucky over a couple of refereeing decisions.
But they have since gone on a 14-game winning streak in the league, and have lost only two other matches in all competitions.
They went out of the National Cup at Thatto Heath and were edged out of the Challenge Cup 8-6 in a thriller at Wath Brow, against the Hornets’ first-team. Ellenborough have also beaten Kells twice on the Whitehaven side’s home turf this term, and at Derwent Park in the Cumbria Cup final.
“It has come down to a ‘cup final’ over who wins the league,” Smith said. “It’s not the best way to decide it, but it’s all about who takes it on the day.”
Wath Brow, another top side working through a fixture backlog, host Wigan St Judes tomorrow, with an eye on moving a step closer to promotion to the Conference Premier Division.
