Lancaster City face Belper Town looking for first home league win of season

Lancaster City will be hoping to get their first home league win of the season under their belts this weekend against Belper Town.

At this still rather early stage in the season, the Giant Axe will host a Northern Premier League Premier Division match between two of the bottom four sides in the table, the Dollies and the Nailers.

The two sides have only faced each other twice before, and both of those meetings were in cup competitions in 2001 and 2011 – City won both.

Lancaster were beaten 6-3 by Morpeth Town in midweek, however there was a major positive to take away from the game: City scored three goals in a league game for the first time since January, and scored three goals for the second time in a week in all competitions; they put three past Bury AFC in an FA Cup replay on September 21, but were knocked out by the Shakers.

The Dolly Blues are yet to win a league game at home this season despite playing some great football and creating promising chances in their four Northern Premier League games at the Giant Axe.

Injuries have been a big problem for Mark Fell’s side so far, but it seems like they are slowly but surely getting players back fit. Edward Elewa-Ikpakwu was taken off with an injury on Tuesday night, but as far as new fitness concerns go, that is it.

Promoted last season from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Belper Town have had, as was to be expected, a tough start to the campaign as they adjust to life in the seventh tier of English football.

However, they’ll be hoping that their 2-0 victory over Stalybridge Celtic on Tuesday evening will be a sign of things to come and the start of a good run of form.

With this game pitching the team with the second worst goal scoring record in the league against the team with the most goals conceded, it is sure to be a fascinating encounter.

Lancaster City v Belper Town kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at the Giant Axe.