Bamber Bridge 1 Lancaster 4

CITY avenged a 6-1 drubbing from last season by hammering Bamber Bridge at Irongate and so stamping their credentials for promotion.

Although it is early in the season, a superb first half performance in which debutante Brian Welch grabbed a couple and Dean Martin put his head to another, City's slick powerful passing and approach play should see them be thereabouts in May.

'Brig had no response to the Blues' first half performance and the fact that it took them until five minutes after the break to hit the back of the net was testimony to City's dominance.

Even with Lancaster reduced to ten men, after Kenny Mayers had an altercation with Simon Woodward, they held on with grit and determination as Bamber Bridge launched attack after attack to bring themselves back into the game. But just one minute before the final whistle, John Fowler sprung through the 'Brig defence to calmly slot the ball in the net to cap a fine nights work for Tony Heskeths team.

Lancaster 2 Worksop 0

Another elevated second half performance allowed City to convincingly win this game, with a helping hand from the Worksop keeper who was sent off. A crowd of more than 400 turned up for this match, no doubt to see ex-England star Chris Waddle play but the former England star was injured. Lancaster sat back in the first half and then piled on the pressure in the second 45 minutes when they came out firing on all cylinders. In the 50th minute, Morton crossed the ball for Kenny Mayers who flicked the ball towards goal only to have Gavin Smith head the ball off the line.

Smith denied City again in the 53rd minute when he cleared John Fowler's header off the line.

Brian Welch burst in and with lightning reactions, snatched the ball and bearing down on goal, he was about to tuck the ball away into an open net until Holmshaw made a suicidal challenge, bringing him down in the box.

The referee had no other option but to award a penalty and send Holmshaw off for illegaly preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity. Forward Kirk Jackson went into goal for Worskop and his first task was to try and stop the penalty after the three minute delay. Chris Ward stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the right hand side of the net.

Lancaster doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Fowler's corner was met by a powerful drive from Morton, with Kilbane guiding the ball into the net from close range.

City pushed for another goal all the way up to the final whistle and were awarded another penalty in injury time when Welch was once again brought down in the box.

Once again it was Ward who stepped up for the spot kick but the striker didn't do himself justice as he struck the ball just over the bar.

Team: Horridge 7, Sparrow 8, Graham 7 (Welch 45, 8), Kilbane 8, Horner 6 (Haddow 53, 7), Mayers 7, Martin 7, Fowler 8, Ward 7, Morton 8 (Barnes75, 6), Clitheroe 7.