LEE Sculpher badly needs goals - but he has only one fit forward to help him get them.

The Clitheroe boss watched his side spurn a string of chances in their 1-0 defeat to second paced Stocksbridge Park Steels in Tuesday's UniBond Division One clash.

And with another daunting trip to AFC Telford United on the horizon tomorrow, Sculpher hopes the Blues get the run of the ball to boost their meagre goal tally of six and avoid a seventh successive defeat.

"We just need one to go in off somebody's shoulder or backside because everything we hit is missing at the moment," said Sculpher, whose lone striker is Gary Jackson.

Lee Cryer's lingering calf injury has dashed his hopes of a comeback tomorrow, while Glyn Barker has been released.

Sculpher said: "Glyn started well for us 12 months ago and scored a lot of goals but he only got one in his last 20 games.

"There was no problem with his attitude, he trained hard, but it just didn't work out when he got on the field. So we took the decision to release him and I'm looking at bringing someone else in."

Chris Whittingham starts a three-game suspension tomorrow as Neil Reynolds returns from his, while Barrie Hart is working.

And Sculpher won't even be able to write his own name on the team sheet as he aggravated a hip injury and left the fray at half-time at Stocksbridge.

"It's disappointing because it's a big game in front of a big crowd," said the manager. "We'll be playing in front of 1,500 people so that's great motivation for the players because it's probably the biggest they've played in front of."

The current run of defeats for Clitheroe was extended to six with Tuesday's loss, the only goal of the game coming direct form a free kick.

And the strike from Wayne Bullimore only rubbed salt into a wound which was opened when Russell Clarke was sent off for the foul that led to the decisive set piece.

Sculpher added: "If I was the manager and it was my forward who was fouled I suppose I would have been calling for a red card.

"The two players were going shoulder to shoulder and if the foul had been anywhere else on the pitch it probably wouldn't even have been a yellow card.

"It was just that Russell was the last man and if the referee gives the free kick he has no option but to show the red card in that situation.

"But it's just the way that things are going for us at the moment that their lad went and scored straight from it.

"We played very well, possibly as well as we've played all season, and that's very, very encouraging."