PROMOTION chasing Calne Town have been rocked by news that Zak Mitchell and Jake Allan will miss a bumper February because of injury and work commitments respectively.

Mitchell broke a bone in his foot during Town’s one-goal win away to Wells City on Saturday afternoon, while Allan has been called up for service with the army for a month.

Both players will miss at least seven Toolstation Division One fixtures as Trevor Rawlings’ squad play catch up with the rest of the league having played only 20 games this term.

While not ideal, joint-boss Rawlings insists he and co-manager Ben Redford have the appropriate amount of depth in place to cover for both players for the crucial month ahead.

Rawlings said: “Zak (Mitchell) went to hospital and he has broken a metatarsal – he is out for four to six weeks which is a massive blow.

“He’s only a young lad from Chippenham academy, and he has been brilliant for us.

“Jake Allan is away with the army for a month and we picked up a few knocks on Saturday.

“We’ve got capable cover, though. A lot of players have been patiently waiting on the bench recently because the team has been doing well.

“But because we are doing so well players are happy to be patient. They’ve now got their chance to come into the team and see if they can keep their places.”

Calne have form when playing short of key players. Only on Saturday, Town managed to beat top three side Wells City by a goal away from home despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men.

After Jamal Chevelleau put Calne ahead from the penalty spot with 10 minutes played, Matthew Hudson was shown a red card just six minutes later.

Ten-man Town dug in to grind out perhaps their most satisfying three points of the season – and Rawlings quickly praised his players’ character.

He added: “We had a player sent off after 15 minutes, we scored through a penalty and moments later a few players came together.

“We had to deal with playing Wells with 10 men, and Wells are a good side who hadn’t lost since October.

“It was a great result and team performance from us. We’ve got a young team made up of players in their early 20s and late teens.

“They’re a great bunch and get on well together. There’s no financial gain at our club, so to see the effort being put in and the results we are achieving is purely down to the players wanting to play for each other.”

Elsewhere in Division One of the Toolstation League, Corsham Town grabbed a handy 2-0 win at home to Radstock Town.

Ashley Alchin and Josh Bright scored a goal apiece for Corsham as Justin Flowers’ side moved up to sixth.

There was no such luck for Devizes or Warminster, though. They lost 1-4 and 2-1 to Bishops Lydeard and Wincanton Town respectively.