Lancaster City play out goalless Northern Premier League draw with Cleethorpes

Lancaster City played out a goalless draw with Cleethorpes in the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the Giant Axe.

It was the Dollies with the first chance of the game in just the third minute as Jim Craig had a good run down the right side after pressing and forcing the error from the Cleethorpes defender, but his cross was intercepted before it reached the foot of Lewis Mansell.

A couple of minutes later a corner routine saw Charlie Bailey whip a delightful ball across the box, which was punched away by Ollie Battersby in the Cleethorpes goal.

Christian Sloan passed to the lively Jim Craig who played a lovely ball back through to the Lancaster striker however his shot was blocked.

As the half progressed, Lewis Mansell tried an overhead kick but mistimed it, before for the visitors Callum Ainley saw a shot blocked, and then James Blunden headed narrowly over Brad Kelly’s bar.

Just before half time there was a huge chance for the Dollies, as Sam Bailey’s initial long throw was reworked into a cross resulting in a huge goal line scramble, but the visitors managed to clear their lines.

In the second half, Nic Evangelinos looped a header straight into the arms of the goalkeeper, before then cutting in from the left and firing an effort over the bar.

Three minutes later the Owls had a good chance but an effort on the half volley went over the bar, before a Jim Craig header forced a point blank reaction save from Battersby in the Cleethorpes goal.

Late on, the visitors had a chance to snatch all three points , and after a spell of pressure on the City defence won a corner, from which Kelly was forced into an excellent stop to keep the scoreline blank.

Jimmy Marshall’s men travel to promotion chasing Hebburn town next weekend.