Brown is eager for victories

Lancaster City boss Phil Brown says his side need to turn draws into wins if they are serious about a run at the play-offs.
Tom Kilifin will be missing for Lancaster (photo: Tony North)Tom Kilifin will be missing for Lancaster (photo: Tony North)
Tom Kilifin will be missing for Lancaster (photo: Tony North)

Ahead of hosting top-five rivals Ossett Albion at Giant Axe on Saturday, the Dolly Blues have won just one of their last seven NPL First Division North games, with four of those matches ending all square.

Brown’s men are 10th, with the Yorkshire side just outside the play-offs in sixth, the Blues boss knowing his side have to make up some ground on Saturday.

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He said: “There’s no hiding from the fact that we’re not going to have many more chances to keep our play-off hopes going. We need to make sure we get a positive result on Saturday.

“Ossett got beaten 2-0 by Radcliffe on Tuesday night, which just goes to show that anybody can beat anybody in this league. It was a good result for us – we need to capitalise on 
it now.

“It’s crucial that we start to get more points on the board in terms of wins rather draws to keep our hopes of the top five alive.”

Brown wants his side to improve defensively, having come from two goals down at Ossett’s other side – struggling Town – to draw 2-2 on Saturday.

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He said: “It’s good to come back from 2-0 down but in the context of the game it is two points dropped, especially with the opportunities we 
created.

“Defensive frailties have cost us – that’s as a team not just as an individual unit. We’ve looked too vulnerable in the last few games and are conceding goals.

“We need to get back to basics on the defensive side of things.”

The Dolly Blues’ game at bottom side New Mills on Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch with Brown thankful for a free week to recharge the batteries.

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City will be without striker Tom Kilifin on Saturday due to work commitments, while Ricky Mercer is battling a dead-leg and Craig Carney an ankle problem.

Aaron Taylor will also not be involved as he is set to join Padiham on a dual registration. Brown said: “He hasn’t really played for a few weeks and needs to get some 
games.

“Danny Carlton has worked hard on his fitness and Zach Clark has been scoring 
goals. Tom Kilifin hasn’t been getting the goals but is working really hard and we’ve got one of two other players who can do a job up there.”