Lancaster City defeated in eight-goal thriller in Northern Premier League

Lancaster City fell to their first defeat in three League games, ending up on the wrong end of a 5-3 score line against one of the league's early pacesetters, Avro.

The hosts, starting life without Grant Shelton, after the former manager left to take up the vacant role at Radcliffe, started off brightly with Max Harrop heading over from a corner and former Dolly Jacob Holland-Wilkinson striking over from range.

They were ahead after five minutes. A switch of play from Adam Owen to Darren Ehimamiegho saw his low cross find an unmarked Harry Salt in the box and he made no mistake from close range.

The Dollies grew into the game, with Sam Bailey seeing an effort from 20 yards flash wide, and minutes later the scores were level. Avro looked to clear the ball from a throw in, but only did so as far as Joe Amison who headed it to Yawson who watched the ball drop over his shoulder and hit it on the half volley from 20 yards out into the bottom left hand corner.

Holland-Wilkinson saw his shot cleared off the line by Brad Moonan and Yawson almost scored a second, before Avro took the lead again on 32 minutes. A quick break saw play down the right, Harry Salt seeing his effort saved by Kelly but Ryley Smith knocked in the rebound.

Lancaster got back level just before half time. A Sam Bailey cross was flicked on by Dom Lawson to Charlie Bailey who under pressure from defenders turned to fire home.

Charlie Bailey almost scored a second in the first minute of the second half, his header was well saved by Vilar Robinson. But it was Avro who took the lead again on 54 minutes. A ball forward by Vilar Robinson was brought down by Holland-Wilkinson and Benito Lowe saw his low shot saved by Kelly, but Smith was unmarked and on hand to dink the rebound over the keeper.

Chances flowed for Lancaster again and the Dolly Blues were back all square on 66 minutes, when Brad Moonans cross was only half headed away by the defence and Sam Bailey fired the ball into bottom corner.

Avro were back in front on 72 minutes, after a ball into the box was only cleared to Benito Lowe and his effort from 25 yards out took a deflection to curl it into the bottom corner.

The best chance of an equaliser came on 84 minutes, when a throw in by Sam Bailey was half cleared to Charlie Bailey and he fired just wide from close range. Jacob Holland-Wilkinson ensured the victory for the hosts with an injury time header, condemning the Dolly Blues to the first league defeat in three games.

Next up is a trip to Warrington Town on Saturday 10th October, 3pm kick off.

Lancaster City: Kelly, S. Bailey, B. Moonan, Amison, Oliver, D. Moonan, Evers (J. Bailey 72'), Craig, Lawson (Moore 83'), C. Bailey (Flanagan 88'), Yawson

Subs not used – Thompson, Graham