Lancaster 0 Leek Town 3 DESPITE another inept City performance and rumours surrounding the future of new manager Gordon Rayner, the board this week gave a vote of confidence in the man they appointed eight weeks ago. A press statement released by Chairman Terry McWilliams, said Raynor had the full support of all the directors and that an article in the Lancaster Guardian suggesting former manager Alan Tinsley was in the wings awaiting return was both uncalled for and unfounded in its contents. On the pitch, City's players failed to show similar belief and conviction with their fifth defeat in a row against second from the top, Leek Town.

The run of bad results has left the Blues low in morale and lacking confidence but despite facing a well-organised side challenging for promotion, City battled hard for much of the first half.

They were competing well until the last two minutes of the first half when Leek scored two making it a mission impossible for the Blues.

In the second half City won plenty of possession but failed to mount a serious challenge on the Leek goal and were eventually given a final reminder of the gulf between the two sides with a third goal in the last minute.

City's hard work in the first half was undone in the 43rd minute when Leek were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position and Steve Soley stepped up to curl a shot around the wall into the corner of the net.

The goal stunned City and before they had time to recover Soley added a second to put Leek into a commanding position.

After the break Martin Filson broke clear but saw his lob over Mark Thornley come back of the crossbar before he notched up the third in the final seconds with a fine header which beat Thornley at the near post.

Team: Thornley, Craven, Hartley (Gelling) Armstrong, McNeilis, Stimpson, Key, Trainer, Lodge (Connolly) Diggle, Borrowdale, Flannery.

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