Lancaster City kick off 2023 with visit to Atherton Collieries

Lancaster City’s first game of 2023 Is a trip to Atherton Collieries.

Monday afternoon's clash will see the 14th and 15th placed teams in the NPL Premier Division square off at the halfway point of the season. The two teams played out a 0-0 stalemate back in August.

In their first match since December 3, Lancaster battled to a 1-1 draw in a heated contest with local rivals Bamber Bridge on Boxing Day at the Giant Axe, equalising in the dying embers of the game through David Norris.

They will now play their first away fixture since late November.

The club’s schedule has been less heavy of late due to games being called off as a result of bad weather in December.

The Dollies’ away record this season has been solid. They have won the last three league games on the road.

Atherton Collieries are 14th in the NPL Premier Division and come into this game in inconsistent form. Their Boxing Day fixture was away at Guiseley and ‘the Colls’ lost 3-0.

Atherton’s last home win in the league came on October 1 so they will no doubt head into this fixture wanting to put an end to a frustrating home record.

When speaking to the club’s website following the draw against Bamber Bridge, Lancaster City boss Mark Fell confirmed that wing-back Kyle Brownhill suffered concussion during the match.

This means he will almost certainly miss Monday’s game and possibly one or two after that.

Fell believes the Boxing Day result gives his team “a good platform” for Monday’s trip to Greater Manchester.

Lancaster City’s other games in January are as follows: Stalybridge Celtic (Home, Saturday January 7), Guiseley (Away, Tuesday January 17), Liversedge (Away, Saturday January 21) and Matlock Town (Home, Saturday January 28).

Atherton Collieries v Lancaster City kicks off at 3pm on January 2 at the Skuna Stadium.