Injury to Lancaster City defender overshadows brilliant win for Dollies

Lancaster City extended their winning run in the league to three games but a distressing injury to Calen Gallagher-Allison made it a bittersweet victory.

It was a significant result against Hyde United - a team that started this round of fixtures second in the league.

The Dollies are now up to 16th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Lancaster’s assistant manager Rob Henry spoke to the club’s social media after the game and admitted Calen Gallagher-Allison’s injury “didn’t look great” and “the reaction of the players around him speaks volumes”.

The club provided a more positive update on Wednesday morning about his injury.

“Calen Gallagher-Allison has been released from hospital in a boot.

"We can confirm Calen suffered a dislocation of his ankle which the medical staff replaced on the pitch. X-rays have shown no subsequent fracture and he will now start his rehab.”

The quick reaction to Gallagher-Allison’s injury was in part down to Hyde United’s medical staff.

“They were brilliant, on the pitch straight away and looked after him well," Henry said.

“Big thanks to Hyde for the support, really important for Calen.”

Lancaster went in 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Dom Lawson and Nic Evangelinos but Hyde top scorer Jack Redshaw pulled one back for the hosts, who had a man sent off not long after.

The injury to Calen Gallagher-Allison stopped play and added a lot of added time, during which Sam Waller made a brilliant save to secure the 2-1 win for the Dollies.

After an end-to-end start short on chances, Dom Lawson opened the scoring for the Dollies.

City doubled the advantage on the half hour mark through the eventual man of the match, Nic Evangelinos.

His great volleyed strike from the edge of the area flew into the net to give the visitors breathing space.

After the break, Hyde United returned to the pitch in fighting spirits. A Tom Pratt cross was headed across the face of goal by Jordan Fagbola and ex-Morecambe man Jack Redshaw brought it down and slotted it into the far corner to half the deficit.

Despite City’s lead, the game started to turn sour.

Firstly, Callum Spooner was sent off for the trailing home side for a poorly timed tackle on Niall Cowperthwaite.

Just a few minutes after that, Calen Gallagher-Allison was the subject of the nasty injury and needed medical attention.

The players were taken off the pitch while City’s number six was attended to and once he was stretchered off, they were back out to warm up again for a 10 to 15 minute period.

Twenty four minutes of injury time were added on.

Hyde pushed for a leveller in the time that remained but City’s backline and ‘keeper Sam Waller put in a heroic shift to deny the Tigers any points.

Rob Henry praised City for being “strong, competitive and aggressive in our play”.

Shortly before the game started, Lancaster City announced that two players were departing on loan in the hope of getting more minutes under their belts.

Enock Likoy and Henri Ogunby have joined Avro FC and Ramsbottom United respectively, Likoy on dual registration and Ogunby on a short-term loan.

On Wednesday morning, it was announced by the club that Brad Hubbold has moved to an unnamed Northern Premier League West Division side on a permanent basis.

Up next for Lancaster City, it’s back to the Giant Axe on Saturday to face Ashton United, who did not play during midweek.