Netherfield 2 Lancaster City 2 A BATTLE in the Easter Monday fog is the best way to describe this bad tempered local derby that slowed City's charge to promotion down from a gallop to a canter. None of City's main promotion rivals managed to take three points on Monday which meant that the Blues could be happy with a draw against Netherfield and a four-point haul over the Easter period. The home side shocked City's large travelling support when they took the lead in the 13th minute. Mark Thornley could only parry a Wallace header into the path of the in-coming Emmett who tucked the ball home.

In an exciting, end to end affair, the outstanding Paul Byron almost brought City level with a typical header following a corner and Thornley had to be on his mettle to save Whitfield's goal bound free-kick with half-time approaching.

City looked the better side in the second half and they drew level on 61 minutes thanks to a text book Stuart Diggle goal. He latched on to an excellent through ball from Brian Curwen, outpaced his marker and calmly lobbed the ball into the net.

13 minutes later and City were in front. Substitute Stuart Gelling's corner curling straight into the net with a little bit of help from a Netherfield defender.

But that lead lasted just three minutes, Watt giving the Kendal side a share of the points when he was allowed space in the box after a free-kick. TEAM: Thornley, Curwen, Stimpson, Byron, Dullaghan, Flannery, Shirley, Trainor, Diggle, Coleman, Borrowdale. SUBS: Hartley, Sharples, Gelling. Lancaster City 4 Warrington Town 2

THE two goal winning margin City ended up with in this game did little to reflect the difference in quality between the two sides.

Warrington worked hard but would have been dead and buried by half-time had the Blues been able to convert the many chances they created. A John Coleman goal on 39 minutes was all they had to show from a first half they dominated.

That lead was extended on 65 minutes when Mark Shirley fired home through a crowded area. But Lancaster's players had no time to relax as Duncan Atkinson broke free, bore down on Mark Thornley's goal and pulled one back for the visitors just three minutes later.

With nine minutes to go Shirley scored his second and the goal of the game. He picked up the ball on the right 25 yards from goal and unleashed a vicious shot that flew into the corner of the net.

Warrington pegged it back to 3-2 with a Payne goal before Borrowdale had the last word with a couple of minutes to go when he converted a Stuart Diggle cross. TEAM: Thornley, Curwen, Stimpson, Eatough, Byron, Shirley, Trainor, Flannery, Diggle, Coleman, Borrowdale. SUBS: Dullaghan, Gelling, Sharples.

Depending on results elsewhere, City could clinch promotion if they beat Eastwood Town on Saturday. Rivals Lincoln travel to Fleetwood and Alfreton play Workington. On April 23 Lancaster face Atherton LR in the final of the Unibond 1st Division Cup. Coaches are running to Bamber Bridge price £3 each. Tickets on sale at Giant Axe this Saturday.

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