Victory at Stocksbridge moves Lancaster City to second in Northern Premier table

A comprehensive 4-1 victory at Stocksbridge Park Steels has moved Lancaster City up to second in the Northern Premier League Premier Division table.

The scoring got underway after just three minutes. Steven Yawson broke forward, something he would do with relative ease in the opening exchanges, and laid it off to Bobby Bjork and from the edge of the box buried the ball into the bottom corner for his second goal of the Season.

The Dolly Blues would not relent, dominating the game and on 10 minutes Christian Sloan, urged to shoot from range, hit the ball straight and true which deceived the Steels' goalkeeper Ben Townsend.

The hosts did try to rally back, James Morris was one-on-one with Brad Kelly but the Scouse stopper expertly killed the threat. It would be a small piece of respite as the Dolly Blues added a third.

Some more imaginative play down the left hand side this time gave Yawson one of the easier goals he will score all season. 12 minutes later he added a second and Lancaster's 4th.

A through ball this time and bearing down on goal, slotted it past Townsend and it was looking like the scoring would continue long into the wet South Yorkshire evening.

Dylan Thompson and Yawson would have chances off target, but it was Stocksbridge - who had know made a tactical switch to stem the Dolly Blue tide who ended the half the stronger. Luke Rawson with a snap shot saved by Brad Kelly.

The hosts had the better of the second half, not after a blocked shot by Nic Evangelinos on 51 minutes, a looping effort by the returning debutant Simon Grand on 59 and another Sloan effort on 63 minutes.

A consolation was scored by Steels after neat play by substitutes Alfie Bradshaw and Thomas Marshall gave James Morris a routine finish on 70 minutes. This would spur on further attacks by the hosts but the defence stood firm for a second league win on the spin.

Next up for Jimmy Marshall's Dolly Blues is a visit from Rushall Olympic to the Giant Axe on the 6th December.