Dave Anderson and Barton Town Old Boys have lost three of their star players to injury
Dave Anderson has bemoaned a recent run of severe bad luck at Barton Town Old Boys.
Barton might sit in sixth place in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table – ten points from top spot – but Anderson has three of his star players to serious injury.
Key striker Scott Phillips, midfielder Brad Ricketts and Louis Kirk are facing lengthy spells on the side-lines and the injuries have been a “body blow” to Barton’s aspirations of finishing in the top five.
“I have never known anything like it,” Anderson told Non League Yorkshire.
“We beat Tadcaster, we were unlucky against Worksop, we beat Brid, but it has come at a cost.
“Against Brid, Brad Ricketts broke his leg and then ten minutes later Louis Kirk went down. We are still waiting for the MRI scan, but it looks like a cruciate.
“Brad is in a pot for six weeks. Louis has a knee brace on.
“We then played Staveley and Scott Phillips ruptured his his achilles so he’s out for eight weeks.
“We played Rossington after and I have never been in a dressing room with three players in pots until then.
“It has been a nightmare especially after a terrific run of results. The Liversedge game was probably a game too far for us.
“Losing players like Scott Phillips is a blow because he scores goals.
“We’re trying to manage the situation and it gives others the opportunity to step-up.
“We have to stay focussed and get on with it, but I am probably one of the only managers praying for rain this weekend.”
If the rain does not intervene, Barton host Maltby Main this weekend.