Lancaster City 4 Colwyn Bay 1"THIS was a dream start," said new manager Tony Hesketh and he was dead right.

Tuesday's victory was their first league for 16 games and their first of the new year and all in front of the new manager - the players must have been flying after the match.

But the new manger wasn't getting carried away. He said: "I was very pleased last night but they're still very much on trial. As I told the chairman I've come in as a new manager and everyone is very much on trial. But they played hard and fast and I saw a good spirit out there and I was aware main players were out injured.

In the other games that affected City tonight, Chorley lost 2-1 to Guiseley and bottom team Accrington Stanley pulled off their second win in a row against Emley, beating them 2-0. That leaves Lancaster 12 points off the relegation zone, meaning that as little as another win - which could leave them safe. And on this form that win could easily come on Saturday's home game against Gainsborough Trinity.

Because of injuries to key players Dean Martin, Jez Baldwin, Mark Cheal and Stuart Diggle Hesketh played Paul Crompton left wing and defender John Kennedy up-front.

The system and effort paid off in the 23rd minute when City took the lead. A good long ball from Paul Fleming was flicked on to Keith Evans by John Kennedy. Evans kept the ball under pressure and dinked it past the sprawling keeper.

It looked like it was going to stay 1-0 at half-time despite City's effort but then they scored an excellent goal on the stroke of half-time. Stuart Gelling scored with an inswinging corner. The ball was lofted up high, swung back in towards the net and needed no assistance as it drifted home for a 2-0 lead.

In the 49th minute, City made it three. Jay Flannery threaded the ball through to Paul Crompton who's pace saw him run 40 yards down the wing without challenge. Crompton then whipped the ball in early to Graham Taylor who lashed it into the top right corner from the right side of the box.

Colwyn made a game of the final 30 minutes when Graham Roberts headed home from an offside position from Marc Limbert's cross The crowd called offside but the referee and his assistant disagreed.

City rounded off the game with good measure three minutes from time when Stuart Parkinson's chipped ball beat the offside trap and left Graham Taylor in on goal to lob the keeper from 25 yards, giving him a brace of goals and securing three points for City.

Jay Flannery - another first team regular - looked to have taken a knock which if he doesn't recover in team for Saturday's game, could be yet another serious blow for the Blues.

City's match on Saturday is at home against Gainsborough Trinity, kick- off 1.00pm because of the England-Poland match which will be screened live in the Dolly Blue Tavern after the match.

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