Lancaster City dispatch the Seasiders to progress in the Emirates FA Cup

Cup fever struck the Giant Axe again and it was the Dolly Blues who had the first chance. A long throw in from Sam Bailey was met by the towering head of Andrew Teague, but the effort was just over bar on five minutes.

On seven minutes, Lancaster City opened the scoring with an acrobatic finish from Simon Grand. Another long throw from Sam Bailey looked to cause more trouble for the visitors. With the ball pin balling in the area, the Dolly Blue defender improvised magnificently to score with a looping bicycle kick.

Lancaster City came very close to doubling their advantage after 14 minutes. Charlie Bailey had time and space to drive into midfield, pick his head up and let fly from 20 yards. The powerful effort look destined to hit the back of the net but Nathan Harker was equal to it and cleared over for a corner.

With the clock showing 15 minutes Simon Grand had his, and Lancaster’s second. After a succession of corners from right and then left Grand found himself in acres of space at the far post. With ice in his veins, the goal scoring centre back converted his second from close range. The tie already in the hands of the Dolly Blues.

On 24 minutes Simon Grand almost had his third. A floated ball from deep courtesy of Sam Bailey was only half cleared, the dropping ball was met by another acrobatic strike from Grand but the audacious attempt fell just wide of the left post.

Just before half an hour, Lancaster City had a penalty. A lovely ball from David Norris looked set to free Jake Connelly in the box but the Marske defender took the man before the ball. Only one man could step up and dispatch the penalty. With conviction, Simon Grand fired his shot down the middle for a wonderful Hat-trick.

Lancaster City showed no signs of stopping as the half progressed. Sam Bailey played in another floating ball this time from the left. The ball travelled to the back post where captain fantastic Andrew Teague planted his header into the floor and into the back of net to add a fourth goal after 31 minutes.
At the half time interval, Lancaster City held a comfortable four goal lead.

With the second half underway, Lancaster City looked to manage the game well and keep the visitors at bay. On the hour mark, Niall Cowperthwaite struck a fierce first time shot from distance. Unluckily for the newly appointed captain, his effort was inches wide of the post.

The second half had been one with very few chances but with a little over ten minutes remaining of the ninety, Marske United pulled a goal back. Curtis Round scored a consolation after getting the better of Andre Mendes and slotting his shot into the far bottom corner.

Jake Connelly came close to adding his name on the scoresheet in the dying embers of the tie. His darting run, skipping past the Seasiders defence set him up for a shot on the edge of the box. The young attacker put too much behind it and just flew over.

The game came to a close with Lancaster City progressing to the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup. A brilliant display from Mark Fell’s side from start to finish secured another emphatic victory.