Lancaster City rue missed chances in Blyth draw

Lancaster City’s unbeaten start to the Northern Premier League season continued after a draw with Blyth Spartans.

After an early goal for City, the visitors seemed to dominate their hosts until a number of missed chances allowed the home side to get back into the game.

It was Lancaster City who had the first chance of the game through Charlie Bailey. Nic Evangelinos did well to intercept a loose pass from the Blyth defenders and drive into the area. His square ball back to Charlie Bailey looked to be effective but the midfielder produced a tame effort forcing Harrison Bond into a routine save.

It was two clear cut chances in quick succession for City as Nic Evangelinos climbed higher than everyone from a corner to force Bond into a low save to his left. The following corner allowed Patrick Allington to win a header at the back post but his effort struck the upright.

After 10 minutes of solid pressure, Lancaster City found the breakthrough. Harrison Bond’s loose pass to Ryan Donaldson was pounced upon by Christian Sloan who saw Bond off his line and produced an intuitive lob from 30 yards.

After the game settled down and both sides saw their half chances dealt with, Christian Sloan almost scored a second. He got on the end of Sam Baileys through ball allowing him to break into the area. His shot across goal beat Bond but the ball could only strike the far post and rebound out to safety.

Inside the one added minute at the end of the 45, Dom Lawson had another glorious opportunity to add a goal. Charlie Bailey was tenacious in midfield dispossessing the Blyth defenders. His through ball to Lawson was fortunate to not be intercepted by Ben Milburn but Lawson broke into the area and struck a shot across goal which beat Bond yet again but struck the post and fell to safety. Agonisingly close for City.

In the 51st minute, the woodwork hitting story continued. Charlie Bailey picked up the ball from Christian Sloan in midfield. He drove until the edge of the box where he had options ahead of him but he opted to shoot from 18 yards. His curling effort looked good initially until it struck the post denying a wonderful solo goal.

Blyth’s first dangerous opportunity came on 55 minutes through Joao Gomes. The number 10 was played through on goal with James McClenaghan to beat, his shot was powerful but straight down the middle allowing McClenaghan to save. However, the goal would not have counted as the assistant referee was quick to flag for offside.

After an hour had been played, City hit the woodwork for a 5th and final time. Sam Bailey produced a magnificent corner to find Pat Allington on the penalty to spot. His jump was good but his header was just off target as the crossbar was struck and Blyth managed to clear.

After making influential substitutions midway through the second half, their combinations unlocked the City defence allowing them to level the scoring. Marcello Benedetti made a darting run down the right, his infield ball found Nicky Deverdics who looked to shoot, his effort beat McClenaghan and looked to be going wide until Billy Gordon appeared from nowhere to tap the ball home on the goal line on 78 minutes.

Blyth quickly became the team looking like to score next. In the 82nd minute, Christian Sloan’s back pass to MClenaghan was intercepted by Dan Savage who rounded the on rushing ‘keeper. A loose touch allowed the ball to fall to Deverdics who saw his shot roll across the goal line and out to safety.

Up next for City is the visit of Warrington Rylands on Tuesday evening.