Bamber Bridge 2-1 Lancaster City

LANCASTER City’s hopes of reaching the play-offs look to be slipping away as they fell to their third league defeat in a row against local rivals Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

The Dolly Blues dominated the first period taking the lead on 20 minutes when left-back Alex Kenyon nodded in a Michael Hall corner.

But Bamber Bridge fought back in the second half with Peter Wright levelling the game up 12 minutes into the second half before Chris Marlow headed in a Wright cross 15 minutes from time to give the home side the three points.

City started brightly and after controlling the early proceedings nearly went ahead on 18 minutes when Fleetwood loanee Liam Wynee, who was draughted into the starting line-up at the last minute after Rob Wilson picked up a knock in the warm up, found Dave Swarbrick in space, but the City striker could only fire across the face of goal.

After deservedly going in front City should have extended their lead before the break, Brig ‘keeper Ben Hinchcliffe denied Swarbrick and home skipper Michael White cleared Billy McKenna’s follow up off the line.

McKenna again came close early in the second half fizzing a shot over Hinchcliffe’s bar after a good run. It was the home side who scored next however, equalising just before the hour mark.

City failed to clear an Alistair Waddecar free-kick properly and the ball fell to Wright on the edge of the box who fired into the roof of Martin Fearon’s net.

The Dolly Blues were rocking, Marlow firing just wide from a Waddecar cross and Gavin Clark also coming close.

Brig finally took the lead after Michael Galliers found Wright in space down the right and his cross was headed past Fearon.

City hit back however, the home side only just managing to clear a goal-mouth scramble ten minutes from time and just a minute later Swarbrick had a shot saved by Hinchcliffe at his near post but it wasn’t to be for City.

Brig leapfrog City in the league with the win. The Dolly Blues are now tenth, 11 points off the play-offs.

City were due to host Chester in the semi-final of the President’s Cup last night, Tuesday, before hosting Harrogate Railway Athletic in the Evo-Stik First Division North on Saturday.

Bamber Bridge: Hinchliffe, Brown, Bowyer, Atherton, White, Jones (Reynolds 84), Waddecar, Clark, Wright (Taylor 87), Mayers (Galliers 69), Marlow.

Lancaster City: Fearon, Henry, Kenyon (Nightingale 87), Duggan, Marshall, Rothwell, Rushton (Hattersley 64), Wynn, Swarbrick, Hall, McKenna (Wilson S 69).

Attendance: 214