Lancaster City lose at Morpeth Town and suffer third consecutive defeat 

Lancaster City were beaten 2-0 by Morpeth Town to make it three straight losses.

Two goals in as many minutes in the second half was the difference in Northumberland on Saturday.

The Dolly Blues have now dropped to ninth in the NPL Premier Division, five points outside the playoff spots with teams around them having games in hand.

Lancaster were without joint top scorer Charlie Bailey, who came off in last weekend’s game at Matlock Town due to injury. 

City’s strongest spell of the game was, by far, the opening 25 minutes.  

Brad Carroll had two attempts in the first 15 but neither troubled Morpeth keeper Dan Lowson. 

However, Lowson had to be at his very best not much longer.

David Norris hit a powerful volley towards goal at the far post after Sam Bailey sent in a free kick.

Lowson kept it out with his legs and the Morpeth rearguard cleared it away.

Jack Foalie, from an early point in the game, was the hosts’ most dangerous player. 

He had the chance to open the scoring before the half hour mark but couldn’t keep his effort down after working his way into the box and cutting inside. 

Jeff Henderson’s header for Morpeth from a corner went across the face of goal just before the break. 

The home side had grown into the game and, unfortunately for Lancaster, that would be increasingly evident in the second half.

Foalie was found on the right hand side bearing down on the goal, albeit from a tight angle.

Lancaster defenders had tracked back to close him down and make the shot even more awkward for the number seven, who could only direct his effort towards Tom Stewart in the City net.

However, the forward had more luck just after the hour mark. 

Foalie was in the box and ready to beat the onrushing Stewart as a pass from Morpeth’s number ten found him.

He powered the ball home with confidence.

Lancaster had barely any time to respond before ‘the Highwaymen’ doubled their advantage.

This time, Jack Foalie was provider: he collected the ball on the right hand side, closed in on the 18-yard box - which was made far too easy for him - and squared the ball across to Andrew Johnson.

Morpeth nearly had a third, with Foalie again getting the ball across goal to Johnson whose initial effort, the hosts claimed, was blocked by a Lancaster hand.

Sam Hodgson fired the ball just over the bar after Lancaster failed to clear the danger. 

Moments later, Morpeth’s most dangerous player was again in acres of space and Lancaster can count themselves lucky they weren’t three down. 

Foalie was in a similar position to the one in which he scored the opening goal, and looked to bag a brace by tucking the ball into the near corner but his effort only found the side netting. 

Brad Carroll attempted to reduce the deficit with a half volley after a nice one-two with Nic Evangelinos but Lowson made a smart stop to preserve the clean sheet.

Up next for Lancaster is a first home game in three weeks, and it’s a big one. 

They welcome the high-flying and well-supported Marine AFC on Non League Day (March 23).

Lancaster City: Stewart, S Bailey (c), Brownhill, Sloan, Barnes, Cowperthwaite, Evangelinos, Carroll, Lawson, Norris (Connelly 70’), Jarvis (Hill 70’)

Unused substitutes: Ikpakwu