Lancaster City 1 Colwyn Bay 1 THE Blues produced a determined display to round off their season as doubts over the future of three key players emerged. Barrie Stimpson, who produced a solid performance, looks to have kicked his last ball in a blue shirt because of a troublesome knee injury and the manager is waiting for striker Stuart Diggle and Steve Trainor to renew their contracts. Despite the unrest the Blues created numerous chances and looked winners all the way but Colwyn Bay sat back in defence and hung on for a point.
Lancaster settled into the game extremely well and launched an early attack which deserved a goal. Paul Lodge's swinging corner nearly connecting with Robbie Armstrong's late run. The goal was at his mercy needed only the slightest of touches but he fluffed the chance.
Mark Thornley once again showed why he is considered one of the best keepers in the Unibond Premier League producing excellent saves. Colwyn's Peter Hughes was one on one with Thornley when a long ball from the edge of their own area cleared the whole City defence. Hughes rounded Thornley and looked to have scored but the never-say-die 'keeper came to the rescue and made a magnificent block.
It was inevitable City would take the lead and when Jay Flannery's free kick found Alex Jones unmarked 10 yards out from goal he fired in a lethal header to set the Blues on their way.
The second half saw Colwyn Bay fight back to try to salvage something from the game. Thornley was tested when Craig Lawton was allowed time and space to whip in a powerful shot which forced the keeper once again to make an excellent save. Colwyn Bay attacked hard and fought desperately to get something from the game and were rewarded for their efforts when the ball wasn't sufficiently cleared and left Tommy Jones to head the ball in the net past a stranded Thornley.
City end their rocky season with doubts over key players and knowing that they must consolidate their position before they can launch a serious promotion threat in this league.
Team: Thornley, Craven, Flannery (Stimpson 82), Key, Jones, Armstrong, Trainor, Lodge, Borrowdale, Dobie (Diggle 76), Graham.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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