Hyde United condemn Lancaster City to third defeat in a row

A 20th minute goal by Jordan Scanlon gave Hyde United all three points and left Lancaster City looking over their shoulder at the relegation places.

After ending the month of February with two defeats in a row, Chris Willcock would have been looking to start the month of March on the front foot and get some points on the board, against a Hyde United side who had started to turn their own spell of bad form around.

The game was slow to get going but when it did the Tigers were on top, with the heroics of Aidan Dowling keeping the scores level. Frankie Sinfield tried going for the top left corner on nine minutes but Dowling clawed it behind, then Shakeel Jones-Griffiths had a free header straight at the 'keeper and Sinfield again expertly stopped, this time as he was going for the bottom left corner of the goal.

On 20 minutes the hosts took the lead. A quick free kick routine caught a napping Dollies defence by surprise and Jordan Scanlon rifled home an effort which was just too fast for Dowling to get anything onto.

Dowling was called into action again just after the half hour mark as Ben Kershaw, looking menacing on the left and cutting inside his shot was saved. It wouldn't be until the final 10 minutes of the half until Lancaster City threatened the Tigers' goal.

Harrison Beeden played a long ball from the back on 35 minutes looking for Nathan Caine, as Caine ran onto it Hyde goalkeeper Callum Hiddleston had to head it clear onto to Charlie Bailey who dinked the ball over everyone from 25 yards out and it is just the wrong side of the post.

After some neat link up play between Shaw and Cusani, the latter laid it off to Lewis Mansell who from the edge of the box curled it round the Hyde United defence but not enough to get round Hiddleston who made the save down low to his left.

The final effort of the half fell to Charlie Bailey again, a cross from Brayden Shaw was only half cleared by Hiddleston and Charlie Bailey with a couple of defenders between him and the goal, put his shot over the bar.

Lancaster City started the second half the strongest, Brayden Shaw couldn't get on the end of a Sam Bailey cross. The task of getting back into the game for Lancaster City became difficult on 57 minutes.

Harry Ditchfield chased a long ball down the left and fouled by Dylan Thompson, already on a yellow card saw his marching orders. From the following free kick, Sinfield once again made Aidan Dowling work to make the save.

Charlie Bailey led the charge with the next two chances, first one from 25 yards out easily saved by Hiddleston and again on 63 minutes as he worked his way into the box and firing a low shot just wide of the post. This would be the final real chance of the game for the Dolly Blues.

Substitute Ayo Quadri saw his long range effort tipped onto the bar by Dowling, but as the half went on their one-man advantage was evident as they kept Lancaster City at arms length as the pressure was starting to build up.

A better second half performance wasn't enough and Lancaster City fell to their third defeat on the spin, leaving Chris Willcock's side 5 points above the drop with 9 games to play.

Next up in a trio of away games is a trip to Greenwich Avenue to take on Basford United.