Mossley 1 - 3 Lancaster City

by Aaron Jackson

IT will all go down to the last game of the season in Lancaster City’s play-off saga but it will not be in their hands.

The Dolly Blues need to see fellow promotion hopefuls Garforth Town and Skelmersdale United draw in Yorkshire and see a four goal swing in their favour.

The victory over Mossley was just what the Dolly Blue doctor ordered, City flew out of the traps attacking with gusto and got the comfortable first-half lead they needed.

Neil Marshall headed the first after rising highest to meet an in-swinging Alex Meaney free-kick.

Alex Kenyon got in on the headed goal act on 42 minutes, after Meaney failed to beat the first man with a corner and the ball fell back to him. He atoned for his error with another pinpoint cross that Kenyon powered off the bar and in.

The returning Lee Dodgson pushed City further ahead two minutes later brilliantly dispatching a penalty after a slaloming run from Zac Clark was halted illegally in the box.

Max Rothwell and Alex Meaney both bent shots wide of the post from outside of the box and Joe Bunney followed suit minutes later.

There was perhaps better opportunities on offer, Rob Henry was not happy to be left with nothing at the end of his driving run that ran in tandem to Bunney’s effort; yet this finesse of decision making will come with time.

It was a deserved consolation that Denton bundled over the line just eight minutes after the restart; it is testament to the City defence and hard work that it was only a consolation so early in the half.

The City players now need a healthy dose of luck and a hat-full of goals to finish inside the playoffs.

Mossley: Pearson, Coo, Young, Band, O’Brien, Rick, Queeley, McGonigle (Yarwood 60), Coppin (Heap 58), Denton, Richardson

Subs not used: Rogers, Fallows, Cuff

Lancaster City: Fearon 6, Henry 7, Elderton 7, Gregson 8, Marshall 8, Kenyon 7, Clark 6, Dodgson 7 (Cook 76), Bunney 7 (Wills 78), Meaney 7 (Kilifin 90), Rothwell 8

Subs not used: Egerton-Wilson

Referee: J Wwaters

Attendance: 152

Starman: Max Rothwell – Terrier-like work and approaching his creative best

.