TITLE favourites Altrincham brought Lancaster City's 100 per cent start to the season grinding to a halt at Moss Lane on Bank Holiday Monday.

City, fresh from Saturday's Kenny Mayers inspired victory over fancied Gateshead, started like a house on fire, with Neil Morton's box of tricks yielding a sight of goal as early as the seventh minute after he beat two defenders.

The home side, with player-boss and former Everton star Mark Ward pulling the strings in midfield, should have taken the lead through Steve Hawson, but the midfielder turned his shot wide after a good pullback from former Man City target Kevin Ellison.

However, with just over a quarter of an hour gone, Mark Quayle challenged keeper Paul Horridge in the penalty area, and the ball fell kindly for Richard Landon to score into an unguarded net.

Lancaster were till threatening, and had chances to equalises before Altrincham added as second. Quayle, who looked good on trial at Morecambe in pre-season, burst through and drew a good save from Horridge. But the keeper slipped on the greasy surface as he tried To recover his parry, and Quayle nipped in for a very lucky goal. The best strike of he match came three minutes later. Morton, who demonstrated just what a great player he is when he's not on the treatment table, played the ball in to Mayers on the edge of the area.

Mayers' neat flick fell perfectly for Ward who showed his goal scorers' instinct to score his third of the season.

The games most controversial moment came 22 minutes into the second half, when Ellison got in behind the City defence on the left hand side of the area.

Horridge came out to challenge and the ref immediately blew for a free kick and looked to be reaching for a red card after Ellison tumbled to the ground. But a sharp eyed assistant referee with a much better view pointed out that Ellison's theatrics would have looked more at home in next month's Olympic games, a fine piece of officiating which is all too rare at any level these days.

Refreshingly, Ellison was booked for ungentlemanly conduct.

Horridge's confidence seemed to grow, and he saved well from sub Stuart Schueber. However, he could do nothing about Phil Power's header as the former Crewe and

Macclesfield veteran put Hawse's cross into the net to seal three points and give the scoreline a slightly flattering look.

City boss Tony Hesketh said after the game: "When the fixtures came out I knew it was going to be tough. Before we starts, I would have settled for three points from two games in 48 hours against two of the top sides.

Team: (4-4-2)Horridge 7, Sparrow 6, Graham 6, Kilbane 6, Horner 6, Mayers 7, Martin 7, Fowler 6 (Haddow 65mins), Ward 7 (Barnes 85min), Morton 7 (Welch 73mins), Clitheroe 7 Bright Blue: Kenny Mayers