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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Lancaster City (29.12.07)

MATCH REPORT

Lancaster City 3 Bamber Bridge 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Giant Axe

Saturday 29th December 2007

By Dave Rowland

Brig dropped to 6th place in the First Division North table as their promotion aspirations suffered another severe blow after losing out by 0-3 against a workmanlike Lancaster City side at a rain-soaked Giant Axe on Saturday. Despite playing second fiddle for long periods, City went in at half-time with a two goal advantage before finishing the job off immediately after the break with a third strike against their ‘out-of-sorts’ guests.

Bamber Bridge arrived at Giant Axe looking to get back on track following the disappointing Boxing Day derby defeat at Irongate against near neighbours Chorley. The South Ribble outfit were in need of three precious points in order to keep them in touch with First Division North leaders Curzon Ashton and second placed Bradford Park Avenue. Both of these sides also failed to register a win last Wednesday. On the other hand, mid-table side Lancaster City were looking to extend a three match unbeaten run in the league, as well as avenge the 0-2 defeat suffered at the hands of their guests on the 20th November. City had been lifted by an excellent 4-0 victory at Peel Park on Boxing Day against Mossley.

Phil Entwistle made three changes to his Boxing Day line up. Young Matty Mahoney was drafted in at full-back replacing Paul McMenemy who reported sick. Midfielder Mark Edmeads made his first full appearance of the season in place of Stephen Brown, who was unavailable. The clubs leading marksman Ryan Salmon was brought back in to lead the line replacing Neil Spencer who was named as one of the substitutes.

The pitch looked in remarkable condition considering the overnight and morning rains and Brig kicked off and went straight on the offensive. Mark Edmeads fired narrowly over the City crossbar after just three minutes play when the home defence failed to adequately deal with a long throw-in by Adam Tong.

This opening flourish of activity by the visitors which promised much, only flattered to deceive, and Brig never again came as close to scoring throughout the rest of the afternoon.

Indeed, the South Ribble high-fliers were chasing the game as early as the 7th minute when they fell behind to a goal from a free-kick needlessly conceded some thirty yards out to the right of goal. Diminutive City wingman Ryan Zico-Black sent in a dangerous dead ball kick which was met full on by Neil Marshall. The shot came back off Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick and GUY HEFFERNAN was quickest to react and prodded the rebound home to give City an unexpected early lead.

The visitors fought hard to get back on level terms but found the well organised City defence in no mood to compromise.

Chances were at a premium with the action concentrated around the midfield. Both sides kept prompting at each others defences whilst looking for openings, and, despite the soaking conditions, the football produced made for an absorbing contest.

The visitors played the more cultured football but City were performing with great determination and it paid off for them on 21 minutes when they went further ahead. Fans favourite, Zico-Black, took advantage of a City build-up down the left and rolled a perfect pass for HEFFERNAN to run on to, and the City midfielder calmly planted the ball beyond the reach of the stranded McCormick and into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the game.

With their tails up City went in search of further glory and Heffernan almost grabbed his hat-trick when firing just over the Brig crossbar following a pin-point cross by the energetic Zico-Black after 33 minutes.

Brig continued to play some enterprising football but their hard work continually broke down in the last third. As it was, Lancaster went in at the interval with a comfortable, if somewhat surprising lead.

Things got distinctly worse for the Irongate men straight after the break when City increased their lead. A Zico-Black corner-kick was knocked back across the face of goal by Heffernan and MARK JACKSON clinically rammed his low drive home with confidence.

Despite the three goal deficit Brig kept plugging manfully away. However, they were well out of sorts and the driving force and confidence, which has thus far accompanied them over recent months, was missing. An Alex Porter free-kick was touched around the post by an otherwise under-worked City custodian Mark Thornley on 75 minutes. It was the visitors only worthwhile attempt at goal during the whole of the second period.

As the game moved into its final stages, the ‘Dolly Blues’ almost grabbed a fourth goal when substitute Jimmy Love set up Dave Foster with a neat through-ball which evaded the Brig defence, but McCormick came from his line quickly to cut out the danger as the City striker bore down on goal.

At the cessation of hostilities, Brig looked a well-beaten combination, whilst on the other hand, City expressed justifiable jubilation with the outcome of their labours.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Melling, M Mahoney, Williams, Tong (Fletcher 45mins), Steel, Edmeads, D Mahoney, Salmon, O’Neil (Eaton 76mins), Porter Unused Sub: Spencer

Goals: -

Attendance: 214