Lancaster City 0 - 1 Bamber Bridge

Report by Ryan McMenamin

Lancaster missed the chance to go within four points of leaders Curzon Ashton after losing by a single goal to local rivals Bamber Bridge at the Giant Axe thanks to a 68th minute Darren Green strike. City handed out a 6-2 drubbing to Brig earlier in November at Irongate, but The Dolly Blues showed none of that dominance on a cold Tuesday night in Lancaster.

The hosts didn’t have the creative spark they usually do, so chances were very few and far between. Max Rothwell had the first opportunity, heading wide from Rob Henry’s cross after the former had fed the latter on the right.

Dave Swarbrick came closest to breaking the deadlock when his sharp close range effort crashed off the post after Danny Hattersley had crossed in low.

At the other end, Neil Reynolds’ fizzing 30-yard effort whistled over the bar, and Martin Fearon almost spilled the ball when Danny Gregson had unintentionally headed backwards.

Early in the second period, Dave Swarbrick should have done better with a free kick in a good position on the left and Alistair Waddecar called Fearon into action but the ‘keeper saved well.

Ryan Elderton got credited for a goal in the previous game against Harrogate when he took a corner which the ‘keeper dropped over the line, and he almost scored again from the same flank at the same end, but this set piece was cleared off the back post.

Twenty-three minutes into the period, City failed to clear a free kick and it was knocked back in from the right by Waddecar for Darren Green to slot home at the back post.

Green missed a gilt-edged chance to double the visitors’ lead when he wriggled through into the box but fired straight at the grateful Fearon.

With a minute of normal time remaining, Dave Swarbrick swung in a dangerous corner from the left that Lee Dovey in the Brig goal failed to reach and the ball just evaded Lancaster skipper Neil Marshall.

Swarbrick’s pace appeared to have made an opening for him in injury time to shoot or cross to the waiting Joe Bunney, but Swarbrick couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and do either early enough.

Bamber Bridge held on for the three points, and became only the fourth side to defeat City in league competition this campaign.

Lancaster City: Martin Fearon 6, Rob Henry 4, Ryan Elderton 5, Danny Gregson 4, Neil Marshall (booked) 5, Alex Kenyon 5, Zach Clark 6, Simon Wills 4, Dave Swarbrick 4, Danny Hattersley (Joe Bunney) 5, Max Rothwell 5.

Bamber Bridge: Lee Dovey, Simon Lakeland, Gavin Clark, Luke Atherton, Matt Lawlor, Matt Mahoney (booked), Alistair Waddecar, Neil Reynolds, Ryan Salmon, Darren Green (Roberto Bonamino), Chris Marlow (George Bowyer).

MOTM: Martin Fearon. The only City player who looked on form.