Lancaster City remain in play off hunt after Gainsborough victory

Lancaster City moved to within a point of the play offs with two games remaining after beating Gainsborough Trinity 3-0 in the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the Giant Axe.

The first chance to the Holy Blues came in the first minute, neat play down the right hand side and a ball across the face of goal from Jordan Helliwell giving Fraser Preston the chance for an immediate lead, but his chance was expertly saved by Brad Kelly.

The visitors continued on their offensive and Brad Kelly was called upon again, this time to prevent Sisa Tuntulwana's deflected shot from going in. Jack Leckie headed wide from a corner on nine minutes, continuing to knock on the Dolly Blue door looking for an opener.

Jordan Helliwell was continuing to cause a nuisance as he drove forward with the ball and his shot from the edge of the box brought Brad Kelly back into action with a save. A throw in caused Lancaster City more problems, as the ball ended up in the box - Javelle Clarke found himself one-on-one with the Dollies' keeper and his effort went wide of the post.

After withstanding the pressure for the majority of the first half Lancaster City threatened in the attacking third - Nic Evangelinos saw two shots blocked in quick succession, and Christian Sloan saw a tame effort from 12 yards out saved by David Robson. Tuntulwana saw another shot saved by Kelly before Sloan saw a 30 yard effort saved low into the corner by Robson again.

Nathan Caine was the next player in Dolly Blue to test Robson from range, again going low into the right hand corner to keep the score line 0-0.

The second half started with the Dolly Blues in the ascendency. Dylan Moonan's half volley in the box deflected over for a corner, before Brad Kelly was called upon again to thwart Tuntulwana once more.

It was on 55 minutes the Dolly Blues opened the scoring. Winning the ball from a Gainsborough throw in and from the blocked Nathan Caine shot, Sam Bailey picked up the ball and from 25 yards out his low effort wrong footed Robson to net his 4th goal of the season.

The second came soon after. Sam Bailey switched the ball to Evangelinos, who cushioned it down for Joe Amison who took the ball past Fraser Preston and lashed the ball home for his third of the campaign.

Gainsborough rallied to create half chances but it was the Dollies who were looking most likely to score. Joe Amison setting up Evangelinos, but the top scorer this season could only find the foot of the post. The third goal came in injury time, an in-swinging Dylan Thompson corner was punched into his own net by Robson.

The result didn't move Lancaster City any further up the table, remaining in 7^th, but the result means the play-off chase goes into the penultimate league game next Saturday - away to Stockton Town, who are ahead of the Dollies on goal difference.

Next up is the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy Final against Padiham on Wednesday 15th April, 7:30pm kick off - tickets need to be bought in advance and are on sale until 2pm of the day of the game.