MANAGER Tony Hesketh is urgently trying to sign a new player after the club's injury crisis deepened during this 2-1 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Bamber Bridge.

Speaking after Tuesday night's Lancashire Cup encounter he revealed: "We're desperately thin at the minute and I'm looking to find someone for the weekend. I do have a player in mind."

The list of walking wounded at Giant Axe is now bordering on the comic.

Midfielder Shane Jessop spent the night in hospital after dislocating his shoulder during the game. Paul Haddow is also out for Saturday's home match against Spennymoor United after picking up another knock. Teenage striker Chris Ward is only 50/50 for Saturday after playing on a swollen ankle while fellow striker Kevin Barnes took a knock at Saturday's away match at Whitby Town.

First choice forward Neil Morton is out until towards the end of the season. Paul Crompton and Jamie Udall are also out. Hesketh confirmed new signing centre forward David Eatock, desperately short of first team games, would be in the first team.

He added: "I threw David in at the deep end on Saturday and he did well with some nice touches.

"We picked up another two bad knocks on Tuesday but it was a fair game, unlike Saturday. We're a little disappointed but I think it's fair to say this is the weakest of the cup competitions we play in. We can now concentrate on the league."

City could easily have won this sixth encounter of the season against Preston outfit Bamber Bridge.

They dominated the first half and it was no surprise when City scored first minutes before the break. Paul Haddow drove a cross from the right and the high wind blew it against the far post and into the net.

But in the second half Lancaster were struggling against the wind and the match descended into more of a battle against the elements than a game of football. Alex Harrison met a Darren Brown cross which City keeper Cyril Sharrock failed to hold for equaliser.

The second Bamber Bridge goal was farcial. Sharrock took a goal kick but it blew back in the wind and fell to Willaims who played it to Andy Whittaker who scored.

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