Lancaster City remain in play off hunt after Bamber Bridge draw

Lancaster City are still in with a chance of a play off place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division after a 1-1 draw at Bamber Bridge on Easter Monday.

A goal for each side in the first half ensured the points were shared in a pulsating derby game at Irongate.

The Dolly Blues were quickest out of the gates. Steven Yawson stinging the palms of Aidan Dowling with a shot from the edge of the box on three minutes.

Two minutes later, a corner from Sam Bailey found Simon Grand, his header found Nic Evangelinos and on the turn he fired his shot past Dowling for the early lead.

The hosts thought they had equalised as Emerich Poilly played in Ewan Bange but before the ball hit the back of the net, referee Daniel Sims had given a free kick for the strikers' challenge on Callum Feeney.

Evangelinos had a chance to extend the lead, after great work by Yawson again to round Dowling and Nathan Okome but Evangelinos put it over from close range.

The hosts rallied and had chances of their own, including Nathaniel Knight-Percival heading wide from a free kick on 26 minutes.

Bamber Bridge continued to press, and Emirich Poilly's effort deflected wide for a corner. A clever routine gave Lewis Hey a shot from inside the box which was expertly blocked by Christian Sloan.

An equaliser came from the next corner, which was again short, and ended up at the feet of Chris Churchman, and his ball to the back post found Nathaniel Knight-Percival who poked it past Feeney.

The hosts were looking for a second and neat work by Jamie Allen found Poilly who evaded a couple of defenders before seeing his shot go wide of the far post.

The second half began with an Olly Molloy chance which was over the bar and a Jim Craig header was also just over. Then, Steven Yawson was through on goal, but Lewis Hey's challenge was perfect and forced Yawson to put it just wide of the post.

The pace of the game was not relenting and the battle for midfield supremacy intensified. Jamie Allen dispossessed Dylan Moonan on the edge of his own box, and curled the effort from close range over the bar.

Just a minute later Christian Sloan played in Sam Bailey down the right and his low cross could not be turned in by Evangelinos.

It was the forward again on 72 minutes, this time from a wonderful cross by Dylan Moonan and the number 9 stretching to convert puts it wide. Both would link up again on 74 minutes, this time a through ball from the midfielder, Evangelinos forcing a save from Dowling from a tight angle.

Late on, substitute Lewis Mansell whipped in a low ball to Nathan Caine - his effort was blocked by Chris Churchman, and Yawson’s effort on the rebound was tsaved by Dowling.

The next game for the Dolly Blues is home to 5th place Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday 11th April, 3pm kick off.