Lancaster Caretaker Manager Mick Hoyle went to the Arnott Stadium having to make two forced changes with key players Neil Uberschar and Lee Dodgson missing. Neil Marshall retuned for his first start since injury at fullback and Aaron Helliwell moved into midfield. Alan Coar also made his second start in a 4-4-2 formation.
After a first minute scare from an offside disallowed goal everything looked to be going okay on the plastic pitch of League Leaders Durham City until 32 minutes had elapsed without a hint of a goal. In fact you would have received better odds than the Grand National Winner Monmore at 100 to 1 to forecast the final result of this game.
In this period the home side had threatened with the fast running of winger Tommy English and his colleagues but had come to nothing with the defence holding firm. At the other end both Jackson and Helliwell should have done better and hesitated to long in firing a shot on goal.
Lancaster players appealed for what looked like a blatant penalty on a flattened Jackson were waived away by the Gateshead official.
Our injury struck season reared its ugly head once more after Neil Marshall appears to have broken his foot again on 28 minutes with the score at 0-0.
Lancaster conceded two free kicks that sailed into Thornley’s net in the same place on both occasions by Keith Graydon. The first on 32 minutes after a foul by Paul Osborne and the second eight minutes later after a tackle by Teague some 30 yards out.
The second half showed why Durham haven’t lost at home on their plastic pitch and will probably not play like that again as they slaughtered City with their fast brand of pass and run football with four more goals.
The third goal was the killer goal as it was scored before you had time to settle after the break
with a header by striker Richardson from a cross.
City had an effort by Helliwell after beating two players but his shot was easily dealt with and a free kick by Mark Jackson but the shot sailed into goalkeeper Craig Turns hands.
Both our young players were given the chance with 19 year old Rob Wilson replacing the injured Marshy on 28 mins and 16 ½ year old Luke Atkinson replacing Jacko on 72mins along with goalkeeper Neil Beesley for Thornley.
A move on the left involving fullback Capper and winger English were the best of the goals on the night after 63 minutes. Steve Richardson scored his second on 71 minutes while substitute Mattie Moffat finished off a fine second half performance by the home team to give them a three point cushion from Skelmersdale at the top.
Lancaster: Thornley (Beesley 72), Hefferman, Marshall (Wilson 22), Teague, Stringfellow Capt, Entwisle, Ward, Osborne, Coar, Jackson (Atkinson 72), Helliwell
Subs Not Used: Haddow, Rushden
Durham: Turns, Richard Smith, Capper (Harrison 78), Dodds, Dixon, Laws, Calvin Smith, Graydon (Duke 52), Richardson, Cogdon (Moffat 72), English
Subs Not Used: Pitt, Morris
