LEWES boss Steve Ibbitson will rally his injury-hit squad for today’s visit to Welling.

The Rooks were down to the bare bones for Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at home to third-placed Dover.

Marc Pullan (calf), Chris Breach (hamstring) and Ross Sutton (ankle) all failed pre-match fitness tests to join Lewis Hamilton and Jack Walder on the sidelines.

Anthony Barness (hamstring) and Scott Manning (knee) played despite injuries while David Wheeler, Sonny Cobbs and Jamie Crellin returned on the bench although they are still not fully fit.

Despite the problems Lewes turned in an encouraging display, although losing Lewis Ide with a bruised foot late on only added to their woes.

Ibbitson said: “At the moment I don’t know who we will have a Welling, although hopefully Sonny Cobbs will be fit.

“It was good to have David Wheeler come on for the last half-hour on Saturday.

“He is still working on his fitness but he was looking a bit more like the old David.”

Dover went ahead through an Anthony Barness own goal on 17 minutes and, although the hosts enjoyed good spells. The visitors scored twice more in the second half through former Lewes loanee Elliott Charles on the hour mark and substitute Harrison Crawford nine minutes later.

Ibbitson added: “For the first 20-25 minutes we played well and were by far the better side. They deserved to win ultimately but 3-0 flattered them.”

Lewes: Winterton: Barness, Pearson, Manning, Lang; Hopkinson (sub Murphy 73), Ide (sub Crellin 87), Wormull, Carey; Rivers (sub Wheeler 67), Gradwell.