Whitley are at home to Penrith this weekend aiming for a victory that could see them climb three places in the Northern League First Division table. Entertaining draws in their last two home league games were followed by an exciting, action packed League Cup victory over neighbours North Shields in their most recent outing at Hillheads. Manager Andy Gowens and his assistant Mick Mulhern will be hoping that their side can reproduce the form that entertained the bumper crowd in that local derby when Penrith make the lengthy trip to the east coast this weekend. The Cumbrians have endured a wretched start to the season but they have shown signs of improved form in their last two games, most notably last Saturday when they led West Auckland 2-1 with less than half an hour remaining before going down to a narrow 3-2 defeat at Frenchfield. They have just re-signed prolific striker Martyn Coleman, who is a threat to any defence, so despite their lowly position in the table, the Cumbrians can certainly not be taken for granted and Whitley can expect a tough test. Defender Luke Taylor completes his three match suspension with this game while captain Peter Glen-Ravenhill will also sit out the game with a one match ban having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the drawn game at Guisborough last weekend.
With this being another International break weekend, there are no Premier League fixtures and Whitley will be hoping that some of the Newcastle United fans who attended the game against Newcastle Benfield last month will return to boost the Hillheads crowd again this weekend.
