Lancaster City host Stafford Rangers aiming to move out of drop zone

Lancaster City face Stafford Rangers on Saturday (November 5) at the Giant Axe aiming to climb out of the bottom four.

Last season, Stafford were victorious at the Giant Axe, winning 2-0 back in October 2021, however Lancaster beat them in the return fixture at Marston Road in the spring.

Stafford Rangers are winless in five games in all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat to Matlock Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday.

Rangers are currently 11th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division but could find themselves in the playoffs if they get the three points on Saturday.

Lancaster will come into their clash at the Giant Axe off the back of a 3-2 victory over Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Trophy First Round. The Dollies will face Chester in the second round on November 19 at the National League North club’s Deva Stadium.

As for their league form, City’s last three home games in the seventh tier have ended in a 2-1 victory over Warrington Rylands, a 1-0 defeat to Warrington Town and a 0-0 stalemate with Liversedge. In amongst those three results, the Dolly Blues got a point away at top of the table FC United of Manchester.

Lancaster’s Dom Lawson was forced off with injury last Saturday against Gainsborough Trinity – it is unknown if he will feature versus Stafford.

The Dollies’ on-loan goalkeeper Sam Waller has been awarded this week for his fantastic form in goal, winning the club’s player of the month award for October, as voted for by the fans. Saturday’s game is set to be his last at the Giant Axe before his loan deal expires on Sunday and he returns to parent club Burnley.

Lancaster City v Stafford Rangers kicks off at the Giant Axe on Saturday at 3pm.