SCORING 20 goals in a season used to be considered a major achievement for a Lancaster City player.

However, their latest striking hero has managed that well before the end of October.

Andy Whittaker has been one of the most prolific strikers outside the Football League for as long as anybody cares to remember, but his achievements this term have surpassed the wildest expectations of City boss Tony Hesketh.

Whittaker joined from struggling Bamber Bridge on a Bosman free transfer this summer, taking on the unenviable task of replacing teenage hot shot Chris Ward.

His brace on Saturday was par for the course. Like many of City's victories this season, it has come despite a performance which is no better than average.

Farrell Kilbane opened the scoring within five minutes. He received a throw in at the near post, but and was allowed to turn.

His shot was not the most powerful, but it did find its way through a crowd of Bradford defenders and through the keeper's legs into the net.

City were well on top and seemed to be capable of cutting through the Avenue defence at will, and Brian Butler almost doubled their advantage with a powerful long range drive on 13 minutes.

Whittaker's first goalscoring intervention came on 18 minutes. It resembled a slow motion version of Paul Gascoigne's famous 1996 goal against Scotland, with Whittaker flicking the ball over the heads of two Bradford defenders before placing it past overworked keeper Craig Dootson.

Whittaker turned provider on 42 minutes. He drew the Avenue defence and looked keen to go all the way himself before turning the ball to the unmarked Colin Potts who scored.

Whittaker finished a successful day for him when he completed the scoring on the hour, turning in a through ball from Butler.

Hesketh admits that the way his team play is ideal for a player like Whittaker:

"We have two wingers who have been told to get the ball into the box as early as possible.

"We also have Brian Welch, who is a creative forward and, in my opinion, the best player in that position in this division."

Hesketh must be getting sick of reminding fans that: "Winning without playing well is the sign of a good team." but, with more injuries to contend with, including a knock picked up by winger Colin Potts, three points is definitely more than enough.

RESULT: Lancaster City 4 Bradford Park Avenue 0

Stalybridge Celtic 11 Lancaster City 0

NO that isn't a misprint.

Sadly, though it appears Lancaster City can't be beaten on a Saturday, midweek games are a different affair after defeat against Kendal a few weeks ago.

In Lancaster's defence, they put out a side who were still being pushed around in prams when some of the players who beat Bradford on Saturday began their footballing careers.

The youngsters tried their hearts out and played some occasional good football, gaining some valuable experience in the process. Hopefully this won't be the last chance for the youngsters to impress.

Lancaster's first cup final of the season began to go wrong on six minutes when James Turley opened the scoring.

By half time it was six-nil, Matthew Clements, Nathan Wharton, Steve Pickford, Matthew McNeil and Dominic Crookes doing the damage.

City held on for the first 20 minutes of the second half but Pickford added two more, along with another McNeil brace and a strike from Chris Perkins.

So, the Unibond League Challenge Shield again evades Lancaster City. Let's hope it's third time lucky next season -- this time with City as hosts. The only way they can achieve that is to win the league title.