Millom set to entertain Whitehaven

The West Lancashire League will host a Cumbrian derby as Millom, who have made such an encouraging start after promotion, entertain Whitehaven.

The West Cumbrians have lost both league games so far and player availability threatens to sabotage their efforts.

Seven senior players, who would normally push for a starting place, will be missing tonight.

Biggest miss will be central defender Lewis Tidy with an achilles injury, which is likely to keep him sidelined for a month.

Josh Green and Robbie Swinburn are not available while Taylor Hambling, Josh Hilton and Callum Oswald are on holiday.

Add to those Matt Reid who is not available to next week.

“It’s pretty drastic and we were in a similar position last Saturday at Haslingden.

“But it wasn’t a bad effort after going 3-0 down. We got it back to 3-1 and then had a great chance but missed a penalty.

“They got a fourth when we were still chasing the game,” said manager Jon Karl Benson.

Millom have enjoyed a good start to life in the Premier Division and lie fourth after two 1-0 wins and a 2-2 draw.

They will start hot favourites to register a third win tonight but manager Dave Allan will be stressing to his players the dangers of complacency.

“We will be unchanged from Saturday apart from goalkeeper where Lee Hannah comes into the side.

“He was the first team keeper for a number of years but has been playing in the reserves,” said Allan.

After three away defeats Milnthorpe Corinthians have a home game tonight against Blackpool Wren Rovers who are fifth in the table.

Bottom of the pile Milnthorpe did better on Saturday when they lost 3-2 at Lostock St. Gerards after two 6-1 defeats.

Blackpool Wren Rovers had a convincing 5-0 home win over Burscough Richmond.

Meanwhile several Cumbrian clubs figure from the League’s lower Division’s figure in the first round of the Richardson Cup.