SO the FA Cup second round draw has been made and get this, Lancaster City were still in the hat - Altrincham 1 Lancaster 1.

City's place may not be assured yet but Saturday's 1-1 draw gives Lancaster home advantage in Tuesday's replay with full knowledge of the prize at stake.

Despite their Unibond rivals taking an early lead, City did well to claw themselves back into contention. Kenny Mayers may have blocked Rod Thornley but the Alty striker was acres from the through-ball.

The top-scorer gratefully hit the opener from the spot on five minutes. City soon responded with a Lee Clitheroe shot before the Dolly Blues drew level on fourteen minutes. Lyons crossed from the left, Mayers flicked on, and Whittaker was again on hand to nod inside the far post. City's travelling army erupted.

Whittaker, alone up front, was a perpetual pest for the Robins back-line. Potts and Butler supported to produce some fantastic football for the rest of the half. The highlight a 30 yard volley from Butler which grazed the bar.

Efforts by Clitheroe and Martin were also blocked before Sertori desperately cleared in injury time after Whittaker created more chaos.

The home side were surprisingly subdued and received little encouragement from a bumper home crowd. Mark Thornley saved superbly form Hulme and Gallagher in the first half whilst their only chance after the break came as Rod Thornley cut inside and fizzed one inches by a City post.

A mix-up between Kilbane and the City keeper produced another scare and a good penalty shout as Thornley held his namesake but, considering the ref's earlier boob, it was rightly refused. Otherwise Kilbane, along with Butler, had been superb in snuffing out potential danger.

The promise of hosting Darlington next round will hopefully force the best from both sides, it didn't on Saturday. And after a solid and efficient display at Moss Lane, you'd have to back the Dolly Blues to secure an historic occasion when battle renews at the Axe on Tuesday night.

City also had some good news on Sunday, when Leeds United lost to Sunderland, leaving them as the only side in the top eight divisions of English football without a league defeat. No doubt Dolly Blues defender Farrell Kilbane will be asking his brother, Sunderland's Kevin (who didn't feature in the match) to thank his team-mates at the Stadium of Light.