Lancaster City lose 3-1 to league leaders Macclesfield

MATCH REPORT: Lancaster City 1 Macclesfield 3

Robbie Savage's Macclesfield continued their march towards the Northern Premier League Premier Division title at the expense of Lancaster, with the defeat putting the Dolly Blues 14th in the League table and six points above the relegation places.

It was the visitors with the first chance of the game, Justin Johnson and Tre Pemberton linked well down the right hand side, squaring it for former Dolly Paul Dawson and his effort was well over.

As Lancaster started to get a foothold in the game, it was the Silkmen with the next chance as Laurent Mendy's long range effort was saved by Aidan Dowling.

Four minutes later, the Dolly Blues struck first.

A free kick was pumped forward by Dowling, with Rollin Menayese failing to clear his lines and the ball falling to Dom Lawson who squared it to Brayden Shaw who stroked it home from the edge of his box for his second goal of the season.

It would be less than 10 minutes until the scores were back level.

A cross from Neil Kengni wasn't dealt with the first time around and Justin Johnson was adjudged to have been fouled by Charlie Bailey. Danny Elliott despatched his first of the day.

The lengthy stoppage in the first half for crowd trouble killed any momentum which was in the game, with a couple of half chances from Lancaster City corners late into the half.

In the second half the away side came quickest out the blocks, Paul Dawson forcing a save from a free kick which went under the wall, but a minute later, Lewis Coulton couldn't get the ball clear, playing the ball to John Rooney and with the through ball Elliott put Macclesfield ahead.

The scoring was done on 61 minutes. Goalkeeper Max Dearnley played the ball long, Mendy flicked on to D'Mani Mellor, his shot was saved by Dowling but Elliot was there to put away his and Macclesfield third of the day.

Lewis Mansell was brought down by Dearnley on 73 minutes, but Sam Bailey's penalty clattered the bottom of the post and with the Macclesfield defence clearing, effectively ended any Dolly Blue charge.

As the Silkmen managed the game from there, Paul Dawson and Danny Elliott with long range efforts saved by Dowling were the final chances of the game.

The result was Lancaster City's second defeat in a row, and now looking over their shoulder towards the relegation spots. Next up for Chris Willcock and his side is the first of three away games on the spin, with a trip to the Project Solar Stadium to take on Hyde United on Saturday March 1.