Injury-hit Lancaster City make trip to Warrington Town

Lancaster City will hope their squad suffers no more injuries when they take on Warrington Town on Tuesday (February 7).

The Dollies had to make two enforced substitutions due to injury on Saturday in their 2-0 defeat to NPL Division leaders South Shields – there were also many players playing out of their natural positions, such as forward Brad Carsley moving to centre back once all enforced substitutions had been made.

The number of players who were either injured or suspended meant only three substitutes were named for Lancaster on Saturday. All of those substitutes came on, including a goalkeeper who had to play outfield for the final twenty minutes or so of the game.

The injuries suffered by Brad Carroll and Christian Sloan in that game adds to an already long list of absentees for the Dollies. Mark Fell told the media on Saturday that “we need help” in terms of bringing in players.

Defender Nathan Woodthorpe was signed by Lancaster from Crewe Alexandra on Friday but could not feature for them on Saturday due to the EFL not having approved the transfer by the time the team had kicked off at the 1st Cloud Arena. It is hoped that he will be available to feature in the match day squad on Tuesday.

A trip to Warrington Town’s Cantilever Park awaits Lancaster next in yet another tricky away fixture. The Yellows beat Stafford Rangers 2-0 on Saturday and occupy fourth position in the NPL Premier Division. They haven’t lost since November 19.

However, Mark Fell said last Saturday that Lancaster will “back ourselves”, hoping they “can give Warrington [Town] a run for their money”.

The two sides faced each other in October in Lancaster and the side from Greater Manchester came away with a slim 1-0 victory.

Warrington Town’s manager Mark Beesley spent a brief period of time playing at the Giant Axe for Lancaster City – he scored four goals in five appearances for the Dollies.

Warrington Town v Lancaster City gets underway at Cantilever Park on Tuesday (February 7) at 7.45pm.