Lancaster City miss chance to close gap on play off places after Hebburn defeat

Lancaster City were beaten 4-1 away at high flying Hebburn Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

The game couldn’t have started better for the Dollies, Simon Grand popping up from close range to head home his second of the season. The hosts did well initially to clear City’s throw-in but Joe Amison was able to stick the ball back into a dangerous area for Grand to pounce after six minutes.

Soon after the goal, the title chasing Hebburn began to threaten debutant Callum Feeney who was able to thwart the attack. The pressure kept building for the hosts who saw good moves ended by poor finishing.

The biggest victim of poor finishing in the first half was Gary Martin. He started a move from the left side of the area and danced just inside the city penalty box. martin square himself up for a shot on goal but the effort was taken well wide of Feeney’s goal.

Just before the break, City had a fantastic opportunity to double their advantage. Nic Evangelinos did well to engineer space for himself well inside Hebburn’s half before lofting a ball over the top in the direction of Steven Yawson.

Yawson was able to break into the area but his effort, from a tight angle, was only able to strike the side netting.

That was all for first half chances, Lancaster City had the advantage heading into the break.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first. Yawson looked bright once again as he got onto there end of a quickly taken free kick down the right flank. After barging into the area, the effort from City’s 11 was placed over the bar.

The hosts soon equalised on 57 minutes through captain Aidan Heywood. A goal mouth scramble following a set piece wasn’t cleared and Heywood was able to fire hoe from close range.

Callum Feeney was called in to action just after the hour mark as he denied Hebburn a second goal with a fantastic double save. Joao Gomes fired a low driven effort from 10 yards which the ‘keeper was equal to before blocking another scramble and collecting the ball in a crowded six yard box.

After 78 minutes and riding brief pressure from Hebburn, the hosts took the lead through Gary Martin. He was able to beat Amison to the loose ball 18 yards from goal. Martin struck an effort which curled low around Feeney and into the bottom left corner.

A shuffle of the pack couldn’t keep City in the game and as the clock hit 90, Hebburn had their third as Oliver Martin raced down and goal and lobbed an on rushing Feeney.

The afternoon quickly worsened for City, Liam Murray able to add a fourth goal in the final minute of five added on. Murray was picked out from a dead ball and fired home after no pressure from inside the area.

That was the final effort of the match and City missed out on closing the gap to the final play off place.

Up next for City is a Good Friday clash versus Morpeth Town at the Giant Axe.