Lancaster 3 Bacup 0

LANCASTER City finally got the victory they deserved by defeating Bacup

Borough in the Lancashire ATS Trophy on Tuesday.

But manager Alan Tinsley is more concerned about league results. "The next couple of league games are crucial although it was good to get the first win in since I came," he said.

Jimmy Graham ended a one-month goal drought which helped ease the pressure and give City confidence throughout the match.

Neither keeper was really tested until Bacup came close to taking a surprise lead in the 33rd minute. Lee Anderson's pass left Philip Murphy one-on-one with City's keeper but Thornley came out well and smothered the ball.

But City took the lead in the 37th minute with a superb goal. Charlie Boyd played the ball to Jimmy Graham on the wing and his ferocious shot rocketed into the top corner, giving Bacup's keeper no chance..

From then on City became more confident and two minutes later they looked to have made it two. Mark Thornley's free kick, taken deep from his own half, was flicked on by Mark Dobie to Dave Lancaster. Lancaster lobbed the ball over Adam Potts and looked to have scored for certain but Potts somehow scrambled back to make a superb tip over.

And City's spirits rose even higher when Bacup doubled their deficit in the 72nd minute. A deep cross into the box was going towards Dave Lancaster's head but he was beaten to the ball by Dominic Ridley. It was unfortunate for Bacup that Ridley steered the header past his own keeper.

City rounded off the match with a superb goal just ten minutes from the end. Grant Leitch passed the ball to Dean Martin and, seeing the keeper off his line, he lobbed him from 20 yards.

City now face Stuart Gelling's old club Accrington Stanley at Giant Axe on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Team: Thornley, Phillips, Graham, Hartley, Flannery (c), Leitch (Jones 86), Boyd (Marshall 77), Martin, Lancaster, Dobie, Goulding.

Blues finally secured the signing of striker Tony McDonald from Radcliffe Borough last week.

And now manager Alan Tinsley is eyeing troubled Workington FC who may have to sell players after a recent boardroom take over.

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