BRIAN Butler gave Lancaster City's promotion push another boost with a fine brace in the Dolly Blue's win over Colwyn Bay.

Experienced midfield man Butler has been an inspiration in the city engine room during the last couple of weeks as City have improved after struggling for the last few weeks.

Butler, whose career has taken him to Blackpool, Crewe, Southport and, most recently, Leigh RMI, opened the scoring on 25 minutes last Saturday, when Butler arrived late to meet Brian Welch's flick after a good long cross by Lee Clitheroe.

Colin Potts carved out the second goal, with Butler again coming in from deep to take advantage of a poor clearance from the Colwyn Bay defence after a Potts cross.

Lancaster never make it easy for themselves and, with the second ticking away, the visitors enjoyed a stroke of luck that their previous play really didn't merit when Owain Roberts hit a hopeful ball into the goalmouth which bounced off the cross bar and into the City net.

However Lancaster, who welcomed back Andy Lyons and Farrell Kilbane, hung on to go within six points of Burton Albion with a game in hand.

City had high hopes of taking that momentum into Tuesday night, when they were due to take on Gateshead, however heavy rain forced a postponement.

Lancaster's next game is a trip to Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday.

The Yorkshire side occupy a place in the bottom half of the table and have already lost at Giant Axe this season.

Burton, meanwhile, are still in the quarter final of the FA Trophy while Altrincham, who are breathing down City's necks in third place, are charged with cutting the wage bill to stem heavy losses.