LYDNEY Town’s massive injury list grew on Saturday during their 3-1 loss at home to Hellenic League heavyweights Thatcham Town.

Niall Halford and goalkeeper Rich Thomas both sustained ankle injuries on soft ground at the Recreation Ground, increasing the number of players sidelined at Lydney to nine.

Top scorer Declan Morley-Lyne has been carrying a niggling groin injury and playing through the pain, while paralympian Jack Rutter is also injured.

Niall’s brother Lewis, Jake Morgan, the luckless Pat Gibbs and Tom Baldwin join them and Jarred Liddington, who is out for the long term.

“Niall’s injury is probably the worst,” Lydney manager Mark Lee said.

“We’re just waiting to hear back but we think it’s a fracture and ligament damage. He’ll see a specialist sometime this week to have that confirmed.

“He is a big loss as he’s great at the back but recently he’s been playing up top and scoring goals.

“He went up for a header and as he came back down his ankle twisted and we heard it crack.

“Rich’s injury was similar, on a soft ground he rolled his ankle about 30 minutes into the game but it’s looking like hopefully that will settle down.

“Dec has a groin or hernia injury and Pat has done his other knee now. He sees someone on Wednesday. We’re sending them all off to get everything checked out.

“You never like to use injuries as an excuse, but when you have nine players who are all first team players really it becomes difficult.”

Perhaps the silver lining of Lydney’s injury woes is that Billy Guest, a recent midfield signing from Cinderford Town, could see more game time as Lydney fight on three fronts.

“Billy’s come on the last couple of games and done well,” Lee added.

“He has a great attitude and works hard. He just needs a run of games and he’ll have that action with these injuries mounting.”

Lee’s men are in mid-table in the Hellenic League Premier Division but are still competing for silverware in the Hellenic Challenge Cup.

Their GFA Challenge Trophy quarter final against Bristol Manor Farm – a replay of last year’s final – was postponed last night and Lee expects another tough test.

“They’ve had a good run in the FA Vase and this one could have been the final again,” he said.

“They’ve got former Bristol City and Cheltenham Town midfielder Alex Russell and it says a lot that they attract players of that calibre.”