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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Lancaster City (11.10.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 Lancaster City 3

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Saturday 11th October 2008

By Dave Rowland

Lancaster City came out on top of this thrilling Lancashire derby with a late winner against a ten-men Bamber Bridge side who had pulled the game back to two apiece following the sending off of defender Stuart Howson on 63 minutes. The home side had gone in at the interval a goal to the good after a fine display, but City scored twice just a few minutes after the break, and from that point on, Brig were left chasing the game.

With league leaders Newcastle Blue Star on FA Cup duty, Bamber Bridge were looking to regain top spot in the First Division North table with the visit of county rivals Lancaster City. The South Ribble side were also keen to extend their six game unbeaten run in the league. A quietly confident City, arrived at Irongate lying in fifth place, and were hoping to keep in touch with the leading pack, after having won three out of their last four league games. All the ingredients were in place for a classical derby.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle made two changes to the line-up on duty at Mossley during the week. Tom Ince and Jamie Nay came in at the back, replacing Stephen Brown and the injured Adam Tong. Former Lancaster City favourite Ryan-Zico Black, was moved over to the right of midfield, with Steve Brown named as one of the substitutes. ‘Dolly Blues’ boss Barry Stimpson had virtually a full squad to choose from, after former Fleetwood Town midfielder Paul Haddow passed a late fitness test.

Following a quiet start with both sides probing for an opening, Bamber Bridge began to impose themselves on the game. Danny Mahoney sent Alex Porter away down the right on 12 minutes and from the resultant cross, Mike Mason, who came sliding in at the back post, just failed to make contact.

A few minutes later Brig almost got their noses in front when Porter laid the ball off to Mahoney who’s cross struck the crossbar, and Tom Ince fired just over from the follow-up.

Brig were well on top and playing good football and came close again on 20 minutes when a Stuart Howson header was cleared off the goal-line by a City defender following a well directed Black corner-kick.

However, it was not all Bamber Bridge and Mark Jackson came close for the visitors with a snap-shot from a Lenny Reid cross, which Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks brilliantly tipped away. Then from the resultant flag-kick, a swirling in-swinger from Lee Dodgson, Howson headed away from under the crossbar.

Reid then had the Brig defence back-peddling on the half-hour mark with a menacing run through from midfield, but his shot from distance lacked direction and pace.

Brig took the lead with a superb goal on 35 minutes after Sean O’Neil won a header on the halfway line. Black got possession before finding ALEX PORTER in space some twenty-five yards from goal. The Brig striker hit a rising shot beyond City goalkeeper Mark Thornley and into the roof of the net.

The goal galvanised the home side and they almost went further in front just prior to half-time, when Ince sliced wide following some excellent work down the right by Black and Mahoney.

After looking good in the first 45 minutes Brig repeated the lack of concentration they had shown at Sheffield in the FA Trophy the week before, when from a position of strength, they suddenly found themselves a goal behind after just six minutes of the restart.

City came out in the second-half all guns blazing and following a pin-point cross by Ryan Elderton out on the left, GUY HEFFERNAN rushed in, completely unmarked, to slide the ball home from close range for the equaliser on 47 minutes.

City continued to take advantage of the home sides lethargy, and a Dodgson volley from a Neil Uberschar cross was bravely blocked by Banks at point-blank range. Strangely, the home side did not shake themselves from their malaise, and Lancaster took full advantage with a second strike four minutes later. The hardworking LEE DODGSON drove home in fine style from the left hand edge of the penalty box following a quickly taken Elderton throw-in.

Dave Foster was just wide with a shot from a Jackson cross on 57 minutes, as City began to dominate proceedings, and Banks saved with his feet at the back post from a close range header by Dodgson following a neat cross by Reid.

The home side’s situation went from bad to worse on 63 minutes when Stuart Howson was sent off for gabbing out at Foster. However, the dismissal seemed to act as a spur to Brig who began to claw their way back into the game with some enterprising football. Indeed, they drew level on 68 minutes when Ince laid the ball off for DANNY MAHONEY who rifled home from the left hand edge of the penalty box.

From this point on the game moved from one end to the other as both sides went in search of the winner.

City defender Neil Marshal bravely blocked an O’Neil volley which was deflected wide for a corner-kick at the clubhouse end, following a high looping cross from Mahoney on 83 minutes.

However, the ‘Dolly Blues’ snatched a dramatic winner with just two minutes left on the clock. Dodgson sent in a sweeping cross from the left which was headed back across goal by Heffernan. City substitute AARON HELLIWELL was on hand to fire home confidently beyond the stranded Banks and the points were bound for the Giant Axe.

Bamber Bridge: Banks, Nay (Edmeads 60mins), Mason (Brown 60mins), Fleming, Howson, Steel, Black, Mahoney, O’Neil, Porter, Ince. Unused subs: Henders, Zarac, Peterson (GK)

Goals: Porter (35mins), Mahoney (68mins)

Lancaster City: Thornley, Uberschar, Elderton, Marshall, Stringfellow, Haddow, Reid (Entwistle 70mins), Heffernan, Foster (Helliwell 68mins), Jackson (Gierke 89mins), Dodgson Unused subs: Greenwood, Price

Goals: Heffernan (49mins), Dodgson (51mins), Helliwell (88mins)

Attendance: 251