Fell goes looking for first win as Lancaster City boss

The Dolly Blues earned a creditable 1-1 draw with NPL Premier Division high-flyers Basford United at Giant Axe on Saturday.

Fell, who was installed as Phil Brown’s successor last week, was pleased with his side’s display but a touch frustrated that they had not gone on to claim all three points.

“I was disappointed that we didn’t win to be honest, which is a nice thing in a way,” said Fell.

“To come off the back of your first game against a good team like Basford and be disappointed is good thing I suppose. I thought as the game wore on, it was one of those where we didn’t want it to end.

“We were definitely on top and it was only really us that looked like going on to take all the points.

“On paper it looks a great point – at the start of the game if someone had said, ‘Listen you’re going to give a good performance and get a point against second in the league’, we would have been happy with that.

This weekend, Grantham are currently in a mid-table position, although they are particularly strong in front of their own supporters, winning four and drawing one of their six home games.

“I have seen a lot of Grantham,” said Fell. “I went to see them play on Tuesday night when they lost 1-0 at Buxton.

“We know what to expect, which is predominantly a diamond in midfield, which is something different for us to combat.

“They have had an indifferent start. They had a great run to start with, but have dropped off recently so it might not be a bad time to play them.”

City have a long injury list which may force Fell into the transfer market – and he is hoping to bring at least one new player in before the weekend.

He said: “The Russell brothers – Charlie and Sam, Glen Steel, Steve Williams and Paul Jarvis are all injured so we have got a lot high-quality players on the sidelines.”