Stoppage time winner gives Lancaster first points of season in five goal thriller

Lancaster City earned their first points of the Northern Premier League season in dramatic fashion at the Giant Axe.

Jimmy Marshall’s side looked down and out until late into stoppage time where two quick fire strikes turned the tide against Hebburn Town.

City started the game quick out of the blocks and inside 30 seconds Lewis Mansell pounced on a poor pass from Hebburn ‘keeper Daniel Cameron. The low curling effort from last season’s top goal scorer looked destined for the bottom right corner but the Hornets’ shot stopper made up for his mistake denying Mansell with a superb save.

The opening five minutes were as frantic as the opening two games as Jack Foalle was next at attempting to open the scoring. Gary Martin looked to fire a shot towards Brad Kelly’s goal but a timely block from Toby Oliver did enough to thwart the powerful strike. The rebound fell kindly into the path of Foalle who fired a close range volley just over the bar.

Another glorious chance soon came the way of Mansell as the striker did brilliant to intercept a mix up at the back for the visitors. One tour touch Mansell inside the area but his second attempt was denied by another diving side from Cameron who did excellent to get down low and read the direction of Mansell’s shot from close range.

It was Hebburn soon after who thought they had opened the scoring after 20 minutes. Aidan Heywood continued to be active down the left flank for the visitors, his deep cross was met by the pacy Foalle who headed beyond Kelly. The Hebburn celebrations were quickly cut short as the assistant referee on the far side was quick to call for a foul in the build up to Foalle’s effort.

An electric first continued to excite for the 473 fans in attendance. Nic Evangelinos came close with City’s third close effort of the half. A well timed through ball from the midfield was perfectly weighted for the incoming striker to latch on to. Delight quickly turned to frustration as his attempted lob failed with Cameron wise to the move.

Despite City’s continuous pressure, Hebburn were first to break the deadlock after 24 minutes. A long punt forward from Cameron turned a defensive move into an offensive counter. Joe Amison looked posed to play a comfortable header away from danger but the summer recruit was put under immense pressure from Michael Turner, who cut inside and found Gary Martin who took one touch inside the area and calmly placed the ball into Brad Kelly’s bottom left corner

After the half hour mark had just passed, Hebburn were gifted with a glorious opportunity to double their lead. City played themselves into danger after a series of passes around the backline, Oliver Martin the beneficiary for the visitors but his effort was poor and routine for Kelly.

Hebburn did eventually double their advantage in the 35th minute. A free kick was lofted towards the edge of the area and Brad Kelly only had eyes for the ball, his attempted punch away only found Ethan Wood who had an open goal to aim for and his driven effort from 25 yards was enough to give Jimmy Marshall’s side a mountain to climb.

The mountain that City had to climb was quickly shortened as a sublime strike from the returning Evangelinos halved the deficit. Lewis Mansell was the target from a goal kick. Mansell played his role perfectly, flicking on to Evangelinos who sent a half volley from 20 yards thundering past Cameron who stood no chance on 39 minutes.

An eventful first half still had one final chance to unsettle some home supporting nerves. After Hebburn won a free kick just outside the City area, Oliver Martin broke the mould and tried a spectacular effort from the dead ball. His effort cashed against the cross bar and on the line, fortunately for City the ball bounced the right side of the goal

The second half restarted with City on the ascendancy once more. Charlie Bailey’s mazy run from the right needed with him inside the area with the goal at his mercy but his final touch couldn’t quite set him up for a powerful enough strike to trouble Cameron who made a comfortable save

With the game in the hands of Hebburn, the game soon lost its exciting nature. That was until the 66th minute when City looked threatening once more. Evangelinos became the creative spark down the right flank and lofted a good ball into the area for Lewis Mansell who did well to be first to the cross but did even better to turn the cross into a shot forcing Cameron into a reactive save at his near post.

As time passed, it looked more likely for a third defeat in a row for City and that feat looked even more likely after second half substitute Pat Allington had to be withdrawn inside the final 15 minutes. After landing heavily from a defensive duel, Allington looked in discomfort and his game soon came to a close. We wish Pat all the best and hope his injury is not as serious as first feared.

Following a tactical re-shuffle, City looked to end the game on top, trying to rescue a point if not more. A corner from Bobby Bjork was inch perfect for Dylan Thompson who saw his towering header cleared off the line. A sign of things to come for the number six.

With their tails up, City had Hebburn penned inside their own half. Nathan Caine was next to trouble Cameron after the ball sat up nicely for the substitute to let fly from 18 yards forcing Cameron into a diving side to his left. On this occasion, nothing came from the following corner.

With two minutes of the five minimum played, City found their equaliser through Nic Evangelinos. A throw in was eventually played in to the area by Nathan Caine. His cross found Evangelinos who turned magnificently and managed to squeeze a shot into cameron’s bottom left corner. Lewis Mansell was sniffing around the back post but the credits go to Evangelinos who got the final and all important touch.

It wouldn’t be a fixture at the Giant Axe without a final twist at the very end. In the final minute of injury time, Dylan Thompson beat the back line to head home city’s third and final goal to secure their first win of the season.

After a free kick was chipped in to the area and cleared Dom Lawson did enough to flick the ball on from Toby Oliver’s recycled cross before Dylan Thompson secured the goal by tapping past Cameron to send the Shed End in to raptures.

There wasn’t any time left for Hebburn to get back into the game and the final whistle confirmed the first win of the 2025-26 season. The Dollies are on the road on Tuesday evening as Morpeth’s Craik Park awaits under the lights.