Lancaster City go top of the league with win over Ilkeston Town

Lancaster City have moved to the top of the Northern Premier League after a superb victory over Ilkeston at The Giant Axe.

Lancaster brought the early energy that they had injected into so many games so far this season, with Steven Yawson forcing Essa Janneh into an inch-perfect tackle, before Ilkeston’s number five saw his headed effort at the other end go wide.

After a cagey opening 10 to 15 minutes that was largely contested in the midfield, the Dolly Blues broke forward at pace down the right-hand side, as Yawson beat the offside trap but, under pressure from Jordan Stevens, fired over.

The forward was eager to continue his strong start at City and was at the centre of another half-chance a few minutes later: Joe Amison’s through ball deceived the Robins’ backline and allowed Yawson to run onto it, but the ball hit his ankle and rolled out for a goal kick.

Ilkeston took the lead on 19 minutes when a corner delivery was only half-cleared, as far as Colin Daniel who volleyed goalwards and had his effort turned in by skipper Sam Parker.

The Dollies went after an equaliser straight from the restart and, after a free kick was taken quickly, Charlie Bailey hit a thunderous shot from 30 yards out that smacked against the crossbar and over.

Bailey was central to another move just before the half hour mark, weaving his way past the defence down the left hand side and then crossing to find brother Sam, whose effort aimed towards the near post was charged down by an Ilkeston defender.

On 34 minutes, Dom Lawson won the ball back high up the pitch, stretching the visitors’ backline and finding Yawson who worked a nice bit of play with Nathan Caine. The number 10’s effort inside the box was well saved by Roberts, who dived to his right.

Jordan Stevens created the opening goal of the game with his corner and he almost turned goalscorer with four minutes of the first half remaining. His shot from 25 yards out was well hit but just grazed the bar.

Lancaster’s start to the second half would set the tone for the remainder of the game, playing the kind of free-flowing football Dollies fans have been used to seeing so far this season with a glut of chances.

Caine and Charlie Bailey saw their efforts blocked by Ilkeston defenders in quick succession, before Steven Yawson tested Roberts from 25 yards out and the Robins’ number one had to tip the ball over the bar.

The very same man got City’s equaliser on 51 minutes. Some quality reading of the game from Caine and Dylan Moonan allowed Yawson to get into a goalscoring position and let fly, curling a fine effort into the left hand side of the net.

Just before the hour mark, Dom Lawson had the chance to flip the game on its head as he raced through the Ilkeston rearguard, but in a one-on-one situation, Alfie Roberts made himself big and blocked the striker’s effort.

Ilkeston could have regained their lead on the hour mark, had their corner into a congested six yard box gone anywhere else, but Brad Kelly denied the ball from crossing the line.

Five minutes later, the Giant Axe witnessed the most audacious of strikes to send the Dollies into the lead.

Alfie Roberts cleared his lines as City advanced up the pitch but was a distance away from goal and, with the shot-stopper still not having retreated around 10 seconds later, skipper Sam Bailey pounced on the right flank from just inside his own half, launching an incredible effort as he stood directly in line with the away dugout.

The ball took just one bounce before finding its way into the net, with the majority of a 511-strong crowd sent into jubilant cheers.

Yawson was close to adding his second and Lancaster’s third soon after, some great work by substitute Jim Craig left the number 11 one-on-one with Roberts but he chipped it wide of goal.

The Dollies had to weather a brief storm of Ilkeston pressure in the closing 10 minutes of regular time, and did so expertly. Matt Thornhill came the closest for the away side with his first touches of the game, launching the ball just over the bar.

City sealed the win in the fourth minute of added time. Matty Clarke showed tremendous physicality and energy to muscle past several Ilkeston men down the left-hand side before having a go at goal at a tricky angle; that was pushed away by Roberts but Bobby Bjork was there on the follow-up.

Sam Bailey tried to bag a second spectacular goal of the day with a free kick from 30 yards out, and it forced a strong save from Roberts.

That was the last action of an exhilarating second half in which, at this early stage in the season, Lancaster City claimed the top spot in the NPL Premier Division for the first time in their history.

Up next for Jimmy Marshall’s side is a trip to Ashton United next Saturday (September 20).