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Home > 2009-10 Season > Match Reports > Lancaster City (01.01.10)

MATCH REPORT

Lancaster City 3 Bamber Bridge 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Giant Axe, Lancaster

Friday 1st January 2010

By Lancaster Guardian

Lancaster City passed a real test of character on New Year's Day coming from behind to beat Bamber Bridge to remain top of the Unibond First Division North.

They were second best and a goal behind for most of the match yet roared ahead in the last fifteen minutes to secure their eleventh consecutive victory in the league.

The visitors only have themselves to blame for not being further ahead after the Dolly Blues put in a sluggish first-half showing.

City, who in fairness have not played competitive football in over two weeks due to the weather, were guilty of some lazy passing and poor decision making all across the pitch they frequently gave the ball away and inevitably fell behind on 14 minutes.

A low cross from Danny Mahoney was half-cleared to Brig skipper Neil Reynolds; he teed up Phil Denney to steer the ball into the bottom right corner.

It was not a holiday showdown big on chances, Peter Wright blazed over for the visitors while Roger Sharrock raced through on goal only to see his shot well saved by Mike Hale at the other end in a tasty first-half.

The second-half began slowly until Mark Jackson ignited the touch paper on a series of Dolly Blue chances that got them back in the tie and eventually all three points.

Brig 'keeper Hale made the wrong decision in coming off his line to chase a long-ball, Jackson beat him to it and poked the ball around him; too wide for a shot he squared for Sharrock who could only strike straight at Hale.

The impetus was with the home side and the timely introduction of Mike Rushton proved key. His strength in holding off tackles and sliding the ball down the right freed Paul Jarvis who burst his way into space to cross for an Andrew Teague tap-in at the back post.

At level pegging their was only one winner and the second was a defensive horror show for the visitors, Hale poorly cleared to Jackson whose pass was intercepted in the box and yet again poorly cleared to Rushton who gratefully walloped City ahead.

Before the gloss was put on the victory with a fine 20th league goal of the season for Jordan Connerton Jarvis and Rushton struck either post and Chris Ward scooped one over from six-yards; a poor first-half forgotten City were excellent.

Connerton's goal oozed class, Jarvis again beat his man for pace down the right, intelligently pulled the ball back for Connerton who sidestepped his marker and clipped the ball into the bottom corner.

City remain top of the table and the team to beat at this level

Bamber Bridge: Mike Hale, James Heywood, Matthew Cross, Mathew Bell, Phil Robinson, Ashley Dunn, Steve Aspinall (Jerome Watt 89mins), Neil Reynolds, Phil Denney (Ritchie Allen 77mins), Peter Wright, Danny Mahoney (Lennie Reid 89mins). Unused subs: -

Goals: Phil Denney (14mins)

Lancaster City: Martin Fearon, Rob Henry (Neil Marshall 52mins), Guy Hefferman, Andy Teague, Mike Stringfellow, Rob Wilson (Chris Ward 58mins), Paul Jarvis, Adam Farrell (Michael Rushton 71mins), Jordon Connerton, Mark Jackson, Roger Sharrock. Unused Subs: Aaron Hellewell, Max Rothwell.

Goals: Andy Teague (78mins), Michael Rushton (83mins), Jordon Connerton (90+4mins)

Attendance: 395