Last updated at 11:58, Sunday, 13 May 2012

THE end-of-season stakes make tomorrow’s Cumbrian derby between Barrow and Workington even bigger for Town full-back Brett Carter.

BRETT CARTER

The Barrow Island youth product returns from suspension to take on his hometown team at Craven Park eager to claim the scalp of his former team.

Carter – when not banned – has been a key part of Workington’s rise to second in Championship One this year and he wants to see Town bring an end to Raiders’ 100 per cent home record in their quest for promotion.

“We have both only lost one game,” said the 23-year-old. “I’m playing against all my mates and it’s a top-of-the-table clash.

“I know Doncaster have played a game more and they are top at the minute, but if they hadn’t played that early game, then this would be a first v second match, so it is exciting.

“Everybody wants to get promotion and that means the Cumbrian derbies are even more massive games.

“They are big anyway, but with everybody fighting for promotion, it is a lot more tense.

“With us both being at the top of the table, both teams want to win so they can kick-on and try and separate themselves from the rest.

“There’s a massive build-up and it has all the makings of a great game.”

Carter missed last week’s win over Gateshead due to a one-match suspension for a badly-executed tackle against Whitehaven last month.

That was his second ban of the season, following a two-game absence resulting from the fight in the Northern Rail Cup match between the West Cumbrian rivals.

He had initially feared he would miss tomorrow’s clash, but returns to the fold instead.

He added: “It’s a relief to be playing in this game.

“When I turned up to training on the night I found out I was going to be banned, Charlo (Town coach Gary Charlton) sat me down and told me I was getting three games and I would be missing the Barrow and Doncaster games as well.

“At the end of the training session, after I had sulked all session, they got the lads round and told them I was only getting banned for one game and I could stop sulking!”

Town will be without Jonathan Dawes tomorrow as he needs knee surgery but will have Hull KR man Dave Petersen after he pledged to stay on until the end of the season.

Workington have announced the high-profile signing of former England and Leeds winger Mark Calderwood, and he could come into contention for tomorrow’s game, after training with his new team-mates.

Boss Charlton added: “It’s going to be a good old derby game.

“I don’t think there’ll be much in it, but we’re quietly confident of getting the job done.”

First published at 10:42, Saturday, 12 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk