LANCASTER CITY finally broke their Unibond Premier League duck at Burscough on Tuesday night - at the seventh time of asking.

After five defeats and a draw, a goal from Jamie Hughes on the stroke of half time was enough to earn City a 1-0 win at Victoria Park.

It was the second strike in as many games for new signing Hughes - pointing to better times around the corner for the Dolly Blues and manager Phil Wilson.

But for the second time in four days, City had to play out a large part of the game with 10 men following a sending off.

This time it was centre back John Robertson who got his marching orders for retaliating after a tackle by Burscough's Drew Hyland which left him with a four-inch gash on his leg.

It is likely that Robertson will be out for several weeks with the injury - and skipper Gary Bauress is also doubtful after suffering a groin strain in the first half of the game.

City were the better side in the first half, with Steve Jones hitting a post on 23 minutes and then missing a glorious chance as a a long clearance from Kevin Welsby put him in the clear.

But it was Hughes who broke the deadlock - meeting a Robertson cross to head the only goal.

It was backs to the wall for 10-man City after the break, battling to keep the home side at bay while always threatening on the break, with Neil Prince, Hughes and substitute Michael Yates all having chances.

CITY: Welsby, Uberschar, Scott, Kilbane, Robertson, Sparrow, Elderton, Bauress (Mercer 42), Jones, Hughes (Yates 80), Prince.