No need to panic for Lancaster boss Mark Fell as his men look to open their win account this season

The Dolly Blues have picked up two draws and a defeat from their opening three fixtures of the new NPL Premier Division.

And progression in the FA Cup came via a penalty shoot-out victory over North West Counties outfit Runcorn Town in the first qualifying round after a 0-0 draw at Giant Axe.

But Fell has seen enough from his side performance-wise to suggest that a run victories is just around the corner.

On Saturday, they were narrowly beaten 2-1 at home by Basford United and last night’s 2-2 draw at Giant Axe against highly-fancied Morpeth Town felt like a defeat.

The Dolly Blues went 2-0 up early in the match and had chances to make it 3-0 before the visitors pulled a goal back in the second half and then snatched a point with a last-minute equaliser.

“The overriding message is that we are not far off at all,” said Fell.

“We played some great stuff and in the league games – how we have only got two points out them is beyond me. We are just on the wrong 
side of the margins at the moment.

“We are getting punished for every mistake we have made, which is pretty painful to take.

“Unfortunately we have not won in the first four games of the season – okay we won on penalties in the cup – but that is not the start to the season we were expecting or anticipating.

“Nothing is won after the first three or four games – you just look at Barrow last season.

“They lost, I think, six out of their first eight games and went on to win the National League and promotion to the Football League.”

City return to FA Cup action this weekend when they travel to face NWCL outfit Skelmersdale United.

They are set to be without talisman Rhys Turner, who faces a month on the sidelines after being substituted on Tuesday with hamstring problem, while Glenn Steel left the ground on crutches after sustaining suspected knee ligament damage.

“On paper, it’s a great opportunity to progress but it does not always work out like that,” said Fell.

“We have done our homework, it’s a 3G pitch which is something different for us. They will see us as a big scalp to take so we need to make sure we are at our best.”