Lancaster City 2 Harrogate Town 1 LANCASTER extended their lead at the top of the Unibond First Division to six points after a bizarre game at Giant Axe on Saturday. City eventually went on to record their fifth consecutive league victory but they had to come from behind, cope with terrible conditions and a 15 minute wait towards the end of the game for treatment to the referee. The Blues started well against struggling Harrogate and could have been three up inside the first ten minutes as Peter Borrowdale, Mark Shirley and Anthony Key all missed good chances to score.

But even with the freezing wind at their backs, the Blues couldn't capitalise on some good pressure and it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Martin Regan who outpaced Martin Eatough before slotting the ball home.

Whatever Alan Tinsley said to his players at half-time must have worked because they came out in determined mood after the break and began to run the show.

They were level in the 71st minute thanks to a powerful run down the left by Borrowdale whose low cross was turned into his own net by Harrogate defender Tony Barrett.

Six minutes later they had their noses in front for the first time when the referee Patrick Hodgson awarded a penalty for a foul on Jimmy Bell. Stuart Diggle did the honours.

As the players ran back towards the centre to re-start the game, Mr Hodgson appeared to collide with a Harrogate player and fell to the floor.

He was down for some time and was stretchered off the pitch before an ambulance took him to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Earlier reports that Mr Hodgson had swallowed his tongue were incorrect. He actually swallowed his chewing gum and is now said to be making a good recovery.

The players, who had left the pitch while Mr Hodgson was being treated, returned to play out the final minutes with no addition to the score.

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