Lancaster City suffer frustration in Basford United defeat

Lancaster City slipped to defeat away in Nottinghamshire in the Northern Premier League.

Greenwich Avenue was the venue on Halloween night as Basford United entertained the Dolly Blues.

Inside the opening three minutes, the hosts took the lead through a Jordan Hallam strike. Brodie Litchfield exploited Lancaster City down the left hand side and played in a low cross where Jordan Hallam was on hand to tap home from close range. Lancaster City spooked early on.

The Dolly Blues looked to hit back instantly as Sam Baileys fizzed in ball made its way to Jake Connelly. Connelly composed himself and looked to slide a shot below Kieran Preston but the goalkeeper was equal and managed to deny Connolly with an outstretched leg.

On ten minutes, a Sam Bailey corner was floated to the near post where Niall Cowperthwaite flicked the ball goal wards. Kieran Preston was equal to the effort again but his save fell to more bodies in grey but the follow up efforts were tame and cleared.

As the 15th minute arrived, Andre Mendes was called into action. A left sided cross found an unmarked Remaye Campbell who directed his header back across goal. Andre Mendes did superb to cover the ground and tip the ball away from danger.

Niall Cowperthwaite aimed to try his luck again in front of goal. Brilliant link up play between Brad Carroll and Sam Bailey allowed Cowperthwaite to drift into the area and fire a shot off. Unfortunately for Cowperthwaite, his effort trickled past the far post.

The hosts thought they had doubled their lead just before the half hour mark. Massiah McDonald cut back inside following a darting run from the right. After chipping the ball over Andre Mendes, Charlie Barnes was on hand to clear the ball off the line and preserve the one goal deficit.

The final chance of the half fell the way of Lancaster City. Christian Sloan drove into the Basford box with no one around him. Before he could get a shot off, a late challenge from behind allowed the ball to trickle past the post and out for a corner.

The following set pieces were unfortunate to not be turned in following heroic defending. A few penalty shouts ensued but the referee waved play on.

Lancaster City took the first opportunity of the first half through Brad Carroll. The ball dropped kindly to him inside the area following a failed clearance and the Lancaster 10 powered his volley wide of the gaping goal.

In the 52nd minute, Andre Mendes did superb again to deny Massiah McDonald. McDonald attacked space down the left flank eventually working his way into the area, his close range shot should have been converted but Mendes put his body on the line to ensure the score had no change.

As the game passed the hour mark, second half substitute David Norris fought he found the equaliser. Sam Baileys deep cross met the head of a leaping Norris who diverted his header over the bar from just inside the area.

Successive shots from David Norris and Brad Carroll in the 85th minute looked like great opportunities to level the score. Norris’ attempt was well saved by Kieran Preston but the rebound feel to Carroll who was taken wide. His effort was saved and the hosts could clear.

One of the best chances fell the way of City again in the dying embers of the match. A corner played into the near post was flicked on by an on rushing Lancaster attacker. Both sides looked to pinch the ball in their favour and it was the hosts who managed to clear despite a goal mouth scramble.

The game finished with Lancaster City falling to defeat to Basford United. Up next for the Dolly Blues is a long trip East to Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday afternoon.