Dollies dominant on the road again stretching unbeaten league run to five games

Another three points on the road helped Lancaster City climb the table and add to their impressive league run.

Dales Lane hadn’t hosted Lancaster City since 2018 but Jimmy Marshall’s side looked to mark their return in quick fashion. A poor clearance from goalkeeper Dan Jezeph was picked off by Sam Bailey who intelligently found Steven Yawson at the first time of asking. Just shy of 20 yards out, Yawson played in Dom Lawson, making his first league start of the season, before the latter fizzed a shot just wide of Jezeph’s near post.

City were in the driving seat early on and looked threatening once again with Charlie Bailey. His quick reactions allowed him to intercept a ball down the left flank which put him in good stead to drive to the edge of the area. A ball to Dom Lawson was made but Lawson’s eventual effort was deflected behind.

Dom Lawson was proving his worth as the main man up front, firing two efforts at Dan Jezeph which the ‘keeper was equal to. The hosts quickly hit City on the counter but Fenton Heard killed the move after firing a shot over the bar.

It took until the half hour mark for City to really test Jezeph. After the ball was played in on the right side, it worked itself to Dylan Moonan who looked to lob Jezeph from a right angle. The ‘keeper was forced into a smart save, tipping the ball away from the top corner. The save made more impressive by denying Yawson an effort to head home from close range.

The hard work for City was undone by a Rushall Olympic goal against the run of play. Kian Ryler broke into the area before firing an effort low and hard into Brad Kelly’s bottom left corner. There was a brief period of doubt as to whether the ball had crossed the line but the referee made a quick call to rightfully allow the goal after 31 minutes on the clock.

City looking to get back into the game shortly after conceding through Bobby Bjork who drilled an effort towards Jezeph after good work from Charlie Bailey and Dylan Moonan. With the initial effort saved, the follow up attempts couldn’t amount to anything positive.

With five minutes to go until the break, The Pics came very close to doubling their advantage. An in-swinging corner produced by Heard was caught in the wind and looked troubling for August Player Of The Month, Brad Kelly. With the City ‘keeper looking to punch on the line, it was Toby Oliver who got a meaningful head on the ball to divert the danger.

The chances were minimal heading into the break, with The Pics seeing the final moments out heading into the stoppage in the lead.

It was almost Deja vu for City as the hosts came inches away from doubling their advantage after 46 minutes. Carter Lycett threatened down the left flank and fired a teasing ball into Anthony Dwyer. The ball looked set to be claimed by Kelly but Dwyer managed to sneak a slight touch onto the ball. The effort was there but the flight of the ball didn’t change and Kelly had a routine stop in the end.

Jimmy Marshall’s side did soon find the equaliser after 54 minutes, summer recruit Steven Yawson netting his first Lancaster City goal. Dom Lawson did excellent to thread an inch perfect ball inside the area to Yawson who fired a rocket into Dan Jezeph’s near post from a wide angle inside the area. The shot stopped well beaten.

It was two in as many minutes for City and for Yawson. Following kick off, the ball broke for Dom Lawson again who looked to poke the ball forward looking for a runner. Initially looking comfortable for Rushall to gain possession, Yawson used his pace to nick the ball and charge down on goal. A helpless Jezeph came running but could do nothing to deny Yawson skipping round and firing into an open net. The game flipped in an instant.

Seemingly shaken by the speed of the goals, it became hard for The Pics to test Brad Kelly. Long balls over the top amounted to nothing with the back line sweeping up efficiently.

Following the introduction of Jim Craig, the impact sub last time out, City looked to threaten again. Craig did well to keep the ball alive on the edge of the area before turning and firing an effort towards goal. Unfortunately, Craig couldn’t quite connect with his volley and the ball looped up and out of play.

Inside the first four minutes of seven added on, second half substitute Matty Clarke all but sealed the game for the travelling Dollies. Another poor ball forward from the Rushall back line was picked off, this time by Matty Clarke inside his own half. Clarke had daylight in front of him as well as assistance to his left.

After a piercing run, Clarke picked his spot inside the area and fired another low effort into the corner of Dan Jezeph’s for his first Dolly Blue goal in his second spell at the club.

There was still time for a final twist, this time in the shape of Kian Ryley’s second strike. A crowded penalty area could do nothing to prevent a cook strike from the number 11 who pulled a goal back at the death.

The strike was too little too late for the hosts as the game soon came to end after the restart, Lancaster City coming from behind and subsequently holding off a late fight back for a valuable three points on the road.

Up next is the first game of a double header at the Giant Axe as unbeaten Warrington Rylands come to town on Tuesday evening.