LANCASTER City finished their pre-season campaign with a victory over 10-man Kendal at Giant Axe on Saturday.

An early goal from Lee Dodgson and another from Aaron Helliwell were enough to secure victory after Kendal had equalised from the spot through Michael Colley.

But perhaps the main talking point after the game was the red card shown to Kendal player-manager Lee Ashcroft after a clash with Scott Greenwood.

Referee Tommy Pinder sent Ashcroft off in the 17th minute – the referee indicating a stamping offence as the Kendal boss headed straight down the tunnel.

By then, City were in front with Dodgson looking a particular threat. He was on the scoresheet in the fourth minute when he slotted home after Dave Foster beat the offside trap and found Dodgson with a square pass.

But after the red card, Kendal rallied and almost equalised through a superb Paul Byrne free-kick that hit the angle of post and bar.
However, the visitors did level when Mark Thornley brought down Carl Osman and Michael Cole scored from the spot.

However, it didn't take long for City to go back in front. Neil Marshall's forward pass was expertly laid off by Foster for Aaron Helliwell to race through and beat David Newnes in the Kendal goal.
Thornley made a good save from Lee Mulvaney to keep it 2-1 in the first half.

City struggled to impose themselves on the 10 men of Kendal after the break with the visitors also guilty over some over-zealous tackling on the slippy, wet pitch.

City boss Barrie Stimpson introduced Portuguese winger Ivanito Fernandez and young forward Danny Sysons off the bench.

Lancaster City: Thornley, Rigby, Marshall, Heffernan, Greenwood, Stringfellow, Dodgson (Fernandez 46), Entwisle, Foster, Jackson, Helliwell (Sysons 80). Unused subs: Redhead, Durnham, Price.

KENDAL TOWN: Newnes, Williams, Byrne, Standley, Hallam, Cole, Osman, Ashcroft, Taylor, Warburton, Mulvaney. Subs: Hobson, Melling, Clark, Baker, Dempsey, Bush, Wisdom.