Lancaster City out of FA Trophy after heavy defeat at Cleethorpes

Lancaster City suffered a heavy defeat at Cleethorpes Town in the FA Trophy third qualifying round.

It was a rapid start by both, new signing Sidi Sango Fofana with an effort on the edge of the box on two minutes, saved by Battersby, and at the other end, Liam Ravenhill at the back post for the hosts on five minutes.

With the early pressure the Dollies scored the opener. Sanogo Fofana broke the Owls’ play up in the middle and gave the ball to James Nolan with a daisy cutter to Charlie Bailey on the left hand side, who drove into the box to find Nic Evangelinos who poked in his first goal of the Season.

It did not take long for the hosts to get the equaliser. On 14 minutes, a throw in flicked on found Josh Walker in the box and the striker had time to pick his spot to equalise.

More pressure from Lancaster followed, with a Charlie Bailey strike flying over the bar from 20 yards out, and after a sequence of one touch passes Dom Lawson was through on goal, Battersby on hand to smother the chance.

Chances from James Nolan and Jim Craig followed, but another breakthrough proved elusive.

All the pressure of the first half was not replicated in the second. Three minutes after the restart Dylan Thompson fouled substitute Henry Brown, with Josh Walker blasting the spot kick down the middle.

Six minutes later it was three, when neat play around the back line gave Walker a chance for the hat-trick which he made no mistake from inside the box.

On 68 minutes, Henry Brown made it four, as Lancaster couldn't clear their lines, before on  85 minutes Billy Fewster made it five and rounded off a miserable day on the road.

A consolation goal was almost scored but Dom Lawson's effort was saved and James Bailey's follow up was cleared off the line.

The Dolly Blues head to Whitby Town on Tuesday night in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Cleethorpes Town: Battersby, Gallimore, Newall, Ravenhill (Bramwell 71'), Blunden (C) (Brathwaite 83'), Foster, Wilson (Brown 46'), Ackroyd (Conway 71'), Walker, Hey, Ainley (Fewster 71')

Lancaster City: Kelly, Amison, Thompson, D. Moonan, Olvier, Sanogo Fofana (S. Bailey 67'), Nolan (Yawson 88'), Craig (Caine 67'), Evangelinos (J. Bailey 67'), Lawson, C. Bailey (C) (B. Moonan 78')