Lancaster City defeated by Warrington Town at the Axe

Lancaster City were beaten 1-0 by Warrington Town on Tuesday night at the Giant Axe.

The hosts had the chance to make it three consecutive wins for the first time this season but were second best as they fell to a narrow defeat.

Mark Fell named the same 11 players to start as he did for last week’s victory over Warrington Rylands.

Despite a flurry of chances for City early on, it was the visitors who got the first and only goal of the game through Connor Woods.

The Yellows were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, with the referee showing the red card to Mitch Duggan, but Lancaster were unable to capitalise on the extra man they had on the pitch.

The first real opportunity of the game came from Dale Whitham, whose two efforts were cleared, one off the line by the Warrington defence.

Brad Hubbold then had a chance to make it 1-0 to the Dollies but was denied by Warrington ‘keeper Tony Thompson – a follow-up strike from Brad Carroll went wide of goal.

Sam Bailey was forced off with an injury with just over twenty minutes gone, he was replaced by David Norris.

The Yellows had a chance from their number eleven Eddie Clarke, who was denied by Sam Waller, behind they found a breakthrough when Matthew McDonald provided a decent ball to Connor Woods, who was there to tuck it home for the only and deciding goal of the game.

Brad Hubbold was the second Dollies’ player to pull up with an injury during the first half – he was replaced by Christian Sloan, who himself is getting himself back to full fitness following a lengthy period out of action.

Lancaster ended the first half and started the second as the most threatening team but had few successful attacks. Warrington soon enough put together some chances themselves to try and make it 2-0 and we’re having the better opportunities.

Some of the City entourage were calling for a penalty when Pat Allington went down in the box after Tony Thompson came rushing out off his line to meet him.

The referee waved away those shouts, but only six minutes later, a Warrington man was heading for an early bath – Mitch Duggan was penalised for an incident with Brad Carroll as he walked past City’s number eight, who had his head in his hands as Duggan walked off the pitch.

Warrington’s danger man Josh Amis entered the pitch not long afterwards and caused a few problems for the Lancaster backline and Waller.

City struggled to create in the final stages of the game and walked away from the game with nothing. They now find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone, only outside of the bottom four by virtue of goal difference.

Lancaster manager Mark Fell told the club website that Dale Whitham, who had to change position to right-wing-back during the game, was “probably one of only ones who came out with much credit”, along with Sam Waller.

Fell believed that, based on the second half performance, “we didn’t deserve anything from the game”.

“I thought we probably relaxed a little when they went down to 10 men instead of picking the intensity up and going down the sides, and that’s unacceptable," he said.

Fell claimed that Thompson’s coming together with Allington was a penalty but admitted he was “probably clutching at straws because, on balance, we haven’t done enough second half.”

The Dolly Blues face an incredibly tough test on Saturday when they take on Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders FC United of Manchester at Broadhurst Park.