Saturday 12th September
Giant Axe
3.00pm
Pre-Season

Lancaster City 2-4 Spennymoor Town

Anderson and Mulhern goals deny Lancaster fightback

match report

Goals from Mark Anderson and Frank Mulhern in the final ten minutes were the difference as Moors continued pre-season with another win despite a second half fightback from Lancaster.

Moors let a commanding two goal lead slip after a flurry of substitutions, but Anderson’s assured finish made it four wins from four in pre-season.

The home side began the game with a spring in their step knowing their first league clash was a week away, with Dale Eve having to save an effort from the edge of the box.

However, from the resulting goal-kick, the ball was worked to James Curtis who delivered a searching pass to Mulhern.

Mulhern pressured the Lancaster keeper and defender into a mix-up, allowing Glen Taylor to tap into an empty net from 18 yards.

Taylor threatened again soon after as Moors took a grip on the game, but this time, the home side’s keeper was up to the test.

Lancaster came close to a leveller just after the half hour mark when two goalline blocks thwarted a certain goal.

First, Eve sprang into action to punch away before Taylor was on defensive duties, clearing a goal bound effort off the line.

Moors’ talismanic striker was carrying out his usual duties one minute before the interval when he doubled the lead from close range.

Mulhern, who has impressed in pre-season, swivelled away from a defender before laying the ball on a plate for Taylor who doubled his tally for the afternoon.

Taylor almost clinched a hat-trick before the hour mark, before four substitutions were made by Jason Ainsley to freshen things up.

Jack Norton replaced Eve in goal, while Mark Anderson, Ryan Hall and Trialist replaced Jason Kennedy, Curtis and Taylor.

Norton was immediately called into action when he was forced to deny from a tight angle, but after Moors failed to clear the aftermath, Rob Wilson fizzed in a rasping shot from distance to pull a goal back.

That goal boosted Lancaster’s attacking intent and they were level six minutes later when Christian Sloan cut in and fired a shot past Norton via an unfortunate bobble.

Moors soon regained their composure and re-took the initiative after a flowing team move.

Hall found space before sliding in the bombarding Rob Ramshaw, and the midfielder kept his composure to find Anderson who swept in his second goal of the week.

Mulhern sealed the victory three minutes from time when he kept his cool to slot beyond the goalkeeper, converting his third goal of pre-season in the process.

LINE-UP

SPENNYMOOR TOWN

  1. Eve (Norton 63)
  2. Forbes
  3. Blakeman
  4. Kennedy (Hall 63)
  5. Tait
  6. Curtis (Trialist 63)
  7. Moke
  8. Ramshaw
  9. Taylor (Anderson 63)
  10. Thompson 
  11. Mulhern 

Unused subs: Norton, Buddle, McKenna.