Lancaster City suffer play off dent after game of two halves

Lancaster City’s dominant first half wasn’t enough as Warrington Town took all three points in the Northern Premier League.

City were dominant from the off at the Giant Axe as they looked to register three in a row wins in all competitions for the first time since September. Simon Grand went searching for his 90th career goal, Christian Sloan’s initial was kept alive, allowing Grand to connect with a header. The effort was strong but comfortable enough for Liam Isherwood.

Despite attacking spells from both sides, Jimmy Marshall’s side were able to make it count as Nic Evangelinos netted his 12th of the season in all competitions. A free kick played in from Sloan was initially deep but Grand did well to head back across goal where an acrobatic Nic Evangelinos fired a bicycle kick into the top right corner.

City’s dominance continued as Steven Yawson went searching for his second in as many games. He picked the ball up well from a sleeping Troy Bourne before driving to the edge of the area. With a clear sight on goal, Yawson let fly but could only see his effort skip past the left hand post.

Liam Isherwood was called into action again from Jim Craig. Goalscorer Evangelinos linked up well with Craig before City’s ten fired an effort low and hard in the direction of Isherwood. The ‘keeper did well with the first effort and just as well to collect the loose ball before he could come under fire again.

The visitors looked to threaten five minutes from time. The experienced Josh Vela did well down the right and through the centre to reach the sea but a barrage of shots could only be blocked by Toby Oliver and Grand without testing Brad Kelly.

The last chance of the half did fall the way of City. Joe Amison played an inch perfect ball in from the right flank on top of Nic Evangelinos but he couldn’t emulate his earlier exploits. His free header from close range went just wide of Ishwerwood’s right hand post.

City had the chances to double and then triple their tally but were held to a one goal advantage at the break.

The second half began as a glaring contrast to that of the first. Josh Vela began the second 45 quickly. He looked to tee up former Dolly Blue Joe Rodwell-Grant but the striker was unable to capitalise from close range.

Immediately after, Vela fired a shot towards Kelly but despite seeing the effort late, City’s number tipped the strike away.

With their second attack of the half, Warrington Town equalised through Roswell-Grant. Second half sub Kallan Murphy had a near perfect start to his cameo. Murphy won a header which allowed Rodwell-Grant to take a touch inside City’s backline before firing an effort low and hard which was able to trickle past Kelly.

The remaining half an hour promised to be exciting as Steven Yawson broke through straight after kick-off. After twisting and turning inside the area, the effort was tame and straight at Liam Isherwood.

The visitors began to lex their muscles and show their quality as the half progressed, taking the lead 18 minutes from time.

From a corner, Josh Shaw won a free header which arrowed into the far corner following his flick. The Yellows managing to turn the game around in the space of 12 minutes.

The chances for both sides were few and far between in the final quarter of an hour. City unable to trouble the backline of the visitors.

City fell to their first defeat in three. Attention turns to Saturday when they travel to the Towbar Express Stadium to face Whitby Town.