GIANT AXE has been the place to be this season for all-action, thrill-a-minute football.

The previous ten games have seen the Dolly Blues saw more than three goals and there have been 76 goals from 25 games including a 7-1 thrashing.

On the face of it a 2-1 victory for City on a freezing Tuesday night does not sound all that appealing; however this was a terrific game of football that could have gone either way.

Jonathan Forbes' 15th minute sending off for a late lunge on Aaron Helliwell allowed the Dolly Blues the space and impetus to attack at will. They played some neat passing in the midfield but were not clinical enough in the final third.

So when the visitors went ahead on 70 minutes as Nathan Taylor was given the time and space to break forward and slot the ball past Martin Fearon City needed something a little more, well, direct.

In manager pleasing fashion comeback was testament to their physicality not their sweet passing play which for 77 minutes could not get them the goals they needed; Tony Hesketh loves to see goals from all over the park so it will have delighted him to see his defence provide the attacking finish.

First on 77 minutes Rob Henry looped a deep cross for Andrew Teague to power home a header than just three minutes later captain Michael Stringfellow grabbed his first goal of the season with a well-timed glancing header from an Adam Farrell corner.

The first-half was full of chances for the home side. Paul Jarvis twice found himself through on goal only to see his finishing desert him; first Rob Wilson broke free and he could only blast at the side netting then his quick feet granted him space only to see him trickle a shot at the 'keeper.

In a move that was oh-so close to producing the goal of the season Chris Ward whipped in an incisive cross that Farrell wrapped his foot around an exquisite volley that forced Danny Hanford into a fine reflex save.

Down the other end Zach Clarke pulled a shot wide of the left-hand post and Simon Garner forced Fearon into a routine diving save as Clitheroe threatened.

City's prolific striker Jordan Connerton showed flashes of his best when he took a touch and unleashed a 25 yard strike just past the top right corner; tonight his was more of a support role that he played diligently yet another string to his bow.

The second-half was a little to comfortable for City until Taylor's effort shocked them into more decisive action. For all their possession they created very little and it looked as though they may throw away three points.

However it was the centre-backs to the rescue with Stringfellow and Teague, who has scored seven goals this season, erasing City's disappointing weekend defeat at Woodley and maintaining their lead at the op of the league.



LANCASTER CITY: Fearon 6, Henry 8, Marshall 6, Teague 7, Stringfellow 8, Ward C 7, Helliwell 6 (Wilson 21), Ward D 6 (Jackson 51), Connerton 7, Farrell 8, Jarvis 7

Subs not used: Heffernan, Kenyon, Rothwell

CLITHEROE: Hanford, Forbes, Hodgkiss (Kavanagh 29), Fisher, Brown, Garner, Clarke (Jones 59), Ellison, Coar (Bayley 59), Taylor, Williams

Referee Christopher Kavanagh

Attendance

STARMAN Rob Henry Great in defence and a constant threat going forward