Lancaster City slip to narrow Leek Town defeat

Lancaster City fell to a narrow defeat against Leek Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Jimmy Marshall was forced into at least one change with Cameron Graham filling in between the sticks in the absence of Brad Kelly. Kyle Brownhill made his second debut at left back.

A golden opportunity went the way of the Dollies, as a lovely passing move inside the area earned Jimmy Marshall's side their first chance inside the opening five minutes.

Dylan Thompson dinked the ball into the feet of James Bailey who helped it on to Dom Lawson, giving the forward a tight angled chance on goal. Unfortunately, Leek shot stopper Yusuf Mersin did well to throw himself at it, pushing the ball away from goal.

James Nolan then saw his fierce volley deflect just wide as the Dollies continued to pile on the early pressure.

Lancaster also came close on two more occasions soon after, with Joe Amison heading onto the roof of the net and James Bailey bending a shot just wide of the bottom right corner.

For all the early Lancaster chances, it was the visiting side who opened the scoring. Jack Griffiths found himself in behind the City backline and slotted it past Graham to break the deadlock just before the half hour mark.

The Dollies broke back, as Sam Bailey's long throw in was cleared but only as far as Jules Flanagan who hammered it goalwards with the ball taking a wicked deflection on its way through to take it out of Mersin's reach, drawing us level on 42 minutes.

Not even a minute later and the Dollies found themselves behind again. Connor Heath fashioned some space inside the area before poking it past Graham, putting Marshall's side back to square one.

Coming out after half time and chasing an equaliser, Sam Bailey came inches off getting it after smashing a 20 yard free kick off the post with 25 minutes left to play.

Thompson headed just wide in stoppage time after being picked out by S.Bailey.