Unbeaten run comes to an end for Lancaster City in Northern Premier League

Lancaster City’s 12-game unbeaten run in the Northern Premier League came to an end at Warrington Town.

Click here to listen to reaction from Lancaster manager Jimmy Marshall, talking to Beyond Radio's Ross Chapman:

When an excellent combination between Nic Evangelinos and Lewis Mansell led to a second minute opener, the then league leaders looked at their best and on course for yet another emphatic victory.

Instead, the home side were able to grow into the game and create a plethora of chances in both halves, which subsequently saw a 17th-minute goal from Jay Harris level the proceedings.

The Dolly Blues were able to get off to a dream start as Evangelinos converted his one versus one, and looked back to his best following a period on the sidelines.

Whilst Warrington did react well to the early goal, it was the visitors who came closest to the next goal, as Jim Craig’s strike rattled off the cross-bar and denied Jimmy Marshall’s side a second of the afternoon.

Minutes later, the home side were able to capitalise on the missed chance and found the equaliser through skipper Jay Harris. The left-footed volley from the edge of the area left City’s number one, Brad Kelly, with little chance of denying the effort.

Chances for both sides soon came with Adam Fairclough hitting the side-netting and Niall Watson’s acrobatic effort swaying wide. The opportunities at both ends epitomised a high tempo half, as either side could have taken the lead.

​Despite the end-to-end action, it was City who slowed in the second half, and the home side made the most of it as Reece Daly found space on the left side and managed a low driven shot, which trickled past Kelly to give a well-deserved lead in the 68th minute.

The Yellows’ momentum continued into the next 10 minutes, as Daly found his second of the afternoon through an excellent first-timed finish from the edge of the box.

Despite the two-goal deficit, City continued to look for a way back into the game and were eventually rewarded with a consolation goal through an expertly guided header from Dylan Moonan.

Although it was too little too late for the visitors, there were certainly many positives to take from the recent run of form, which leaves Lancaster in a remarkable second place.

The attention now turns to Saturday, 1st November, where Marshall’s side play host to North Yorkshire visitors Whitby Town.