UniBond League Division One North


In their first game since the Boxing Day victory over Clitheroe, City got off to the worst possible start when on three minutes, Danny Self scrambled home for Mossley after a free-kick was fumbled by Neil Beesley.

On 18 minutes things got worse. After a succession of heavy tackles, Lee Dodgson signalled to the bench that he needed to be replaced, a shoulder injury put pay to his day and all but ruled him out of Tuesday's clash with Warrington.

However his replacement, youngster Adam Airey, softened that blow with another good performance and an equaliser on 35 minutes. Striker Mark Jackson exchanged passes with Tom Entwisle whose cross found Airey and he found the net.

Self wasted a good opportunity when he struck the post from a Beesley fumble and Mike Fish again troubled the woodwork with a good strike but City kept the scores level at the break.

The second-half continued in a similar, close, fashion. The pitch did not allow for flowing football but both sides tried to play a good passing game.

The visitors had the first real chance when Jackson's deflected shot struck the bar, and that was followed up with a snap shot from Paul Osborne as City were altogether brighter and looking more likely to push ahead.

The only real threat on Beesley's goal came from a Mike Fish effort that went just over.

The home side had all the late pressure and while a draw was a fair result, City will be pleased that their enforced break did not hamper their promotion progress too severely.

Lancaster City:   Beesley, Entwisle, Marshall, Heffernan, Stringfellow, Osborne (Gierke 74) Haddow, Ward, Foster, Jackson, Dodgson (Airey 18).

Subs not used: Thornley (injured in warm up), Uberschar, Reid.

Referee: Ian Knee.

Attendance: 194.