Workington Reds have made a double swoop ahead of their third meeting in eight days against Marine.
The injury-hit Reds squad had two new players registered by the NPL tonight in time for them to take their places in the squad at Borough Park.
Kyle Harrison, now with Widnes, played under manager Chris Willcock at Ramsbottom while forward Rowan Roache has been tracked by the Reds boss since he saw him play on loan at Bamber Bridge.
Willcock said: “I wasn’t expecting to have to sign this many players so early in my time at the club but a talented squad now resembled an A&E hospital department.
“It’s particularly tough at this particular time with so many games in such a short space of time.”
Harrison, 26, had established himself as a top defender at Hyde, Radcliffe and then Guiseley in Conference North before joining Ramsbottom for the truncated season. He then accepted an offer to play for Widnes this season.
Roache, 21, has been released by Blackpool and in the past has had loan spells at Altrincham and Bamber Bridge.
Willcock said: “I am delighted to get both deals over the line because both players are going to add something to our squad.
“Kyle is very versatile and can play right along the back four. He is an established and experienced defender and I am really looking forward to working with him again.
“Rowan caught my eye for Bamber Bridge and I know a number of clubs have been tracking him.
“He is a technically gifted player, good on set pieces with an exceptional delivery. He also has an eye for goal and has ambitions to get back up the football pyramid so I hope he can achieve that and we can benefit as a result.”
Harrison, however, faces a spell on the sidelines after he was controversially sent-off playing at full-back for Widnes on Tuesday although he will be able to play tomorrow and Monday.
He twice won promotion from Step 4 with Hyde and Radcliffe in successive seasons. While at Hyde he was named in the 2017/18 NPL Division One North Team of the Year. He has also played for Farsley Celtic and Mossley.
Irishman Roache has been capped at four different age levels for the Republic and in his time at Blackpool has spent loan spells with Southport, FC United of Manchester, Lancaster City and Bamber Bridge.
