Evo-Stik Premier preview: Can Workington grab first win on the road?

By Alex Beard
Winning away from home can be a tricky business, and twelve games (for some teams) into the new Evo-Stik Premier season it remains something that has eluded two teams.
While bottom club Stalybridge Celtic will have to wait to quench their away drought – they host Halesowen Town in a basement battle tonight – Workington do have the opportunity to break their duck at high-flying Ashton United.
Dave Hewson’s side will be looking to kick-start their season against an Ashton team who are 12 places and seven points above their opponents despite playing two fewer games.
There’s an interesting contest on the ledger tonight between third place Warrington and Stourbridge two places below them. The Wire are three points behind the leaders Shaw Lane but with a game in hand, and are reeling from a 2-0 FA Cup loss to Hyde United at the weekend.
Stourbridge are level on points with their opponents and will know the importance of the game at Cantilever Park. Another team that knows the importance of tonight’s fixture is Stafford Rangers who welcome Nantwich Town to Marston Road.
Rangers have just 11 points from 10 games and need to keep pace with the team’s around them until they can cash in their two games in hand. Nantwich haven’t made the start they would’ve hoped for either, and lie in 17th place in the table.
The aforementioned leaders Shaw Lane are on the road tonight, as they travel to face Matlock Town. The Gladiators have made a decent start to the season and could represent a banana skin for Craig Elliott’s promotion hopefuls.
Second place Coalville Town will feel confident of victory against Rushall Olympic at Dales Lane tonight, as they look to improve an away record that has seen them win just two of five games on their travels.
Lancaster City will host Witton Albion in an intriguing encounter at Giant Axe this evening, while struggling Sutton Coldfield Town are on the road at Grantham Town.
Farsley Celtic travel to Marine hopeful of victory, while Altrincham are at Hednesford Town. Jimmy Ginnelly’s Barwell side welcome Mickleover Sports to Kirkby Road, and Whitby Town are at Buxton.
Full list of fixtures:
Ashton United v Workington
Barwell v Mickleover Sports
Buxton v Whitby Town
Grantham Town v Sutton Coldfield Town
Hednesford Town v Altrincham
Lancaster City v Witton Albion
Marine v Farsley Celtic
Matlock Town v Shaw Lane
Rushall Olmpic v Coalville Town
Stafford Rangers v Nantwich Town
Stalybridge Celtic v Halesowen Town
Warrington Town v Stourbridge