Lancaster City dumped out of FA Trophy at hands of Clitheroe

The Dolly Blues are out of the FA Trophy at the final qualifying round stage.

After defeat in the last league game against Leek Town, Chris Willcock made 4 changes. In came Pat Allington, Ed Ikpakwu, Christian Sloan and Chris Dagnall and out went Dylan Moonan, Jack Byrne, Charlie Hall and Dom Lawson.

It was the hosts who started the brightest. Vernon Parny's free kick an early warning shot over the bar and on 8 minutes Jacob Hansen cut in from the right hand side and saw his low effort saved by James McClenaghan.

The Dollies back line was holding out well in this half as Lancaster City looked to get into the game, Sam Bailey fired in a cross which Aaron Bennett just couldn't beat the Clitheroe Keeper Hakan Burton to it to head in and Charlie Bailey broke into the box two minutes later pulling his shot just wide.

Back came Clitheroe, Sam Olawumi danced through the defence and making McClenaghan work again and Louis Potts headed over from a free kick.

The best chance for the Dollies came on 41 minutes. Christian Sloan played in Chris Dagnall and on the turn his shot was saved by the keeper.

The best chance of the half fell to the hosts on 42 minutes. Louis Potts once again picked up on a ball which was loose after a ricochet off a Lancaster defender and on the edge of the six yard box blazed over.

Into the second half, and Charlie Bailey saw his shot from the edge of the box saved, while Harrsion Beeden's header was gathered by the 'keeper from a Sam Bailey throw in after neat play between Charlie Bailey and Nic Evangelinos almost played the latter in for a chance at close range.

The deadlock was broken on 58 minutes. Veron Parny, who had been causing Lancaster City problems all game, broke on the halfway line and crossed to Luke Gill, who with a cute touch to knock it round McClenaghan had an easy finish from a couple of yards out to make it 1-0.

Then, Emerich Poilly saw an shot blocked in the box before two minutes later the advantage was doubled.

Poilly got a powerful shot away, James Mclenaghan parried it and Harrison Beeden stopped it going over the line, but on the stretch could only send the ball to Louis Potts who smashed into an open goal.

Chris WIllcock responded with a triple substitution sending on Charlie Hall, Dylan Moonan and Dom Lawson and it was the latter who had the best chance of the half, driving into the box and forcing a low save from Hakan Burton. That would be it for clear cut chances for the Dollies as Clitheroe weathered any threat for the remainder of the game and qualify for the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Trophy for the first time in 19 years.

Next up for Lancaster City is another away day to Broadhurst Park to take on FC United of Manchester in the NPL Premier Division.