Second half penalty sees Lancaster defeated by FC Utd of Manchester

A second half penalty from former Premier League striker Adam Le Fondre was enough to see Lancaster City defeated by FC Utd of Manchester at Giant Axe.

It was Lancaster City who had the first chance of the game, Lewis Mansell with some impressive hold up play got Marcus Cusani in a position to drive forward and his first shot of the day was just wide.

Brayden Shaw put visiting goalkeeper Connor O'Keefe under pressure with his free kick delivery, this particular effort on 16 minutes needing his intervention otherwise Cusani would have had an easy header on goal.

Four minutes later down the left hand side, Lewis Coulton found space to get a cross and at the back post Dom Lawson, who was a 9th minute substitute for Nic Evangelinos, could only steer his header wide.

After this was where the game became end to end, with the visitors with the better of the chances. Jay Fitzmartin thought he had scored but the heroics of Aidan Dowling with an expert save turning his effort wide. A few minutes later Noah Halford has beaten Dowling with his header from a corner, only to find Sam Bailey on the post ready to clear.

Next, Marcus Cusani had a low shot on the edge of the box from a Sam Bailey corner and again from a Brayden Shaw long through ball, with both efforts saved by O'Keefe.

The visitors' turn again to try and get the breakthrough and more Aidan Dowling heroics, once again being Jay Fitzmartin's tormentor, with a save better than the last one as a ball from Mottley-Henry gave the winger the perfect chance to take the lead. The last action of the game was Fitzmartin firing wide.

The Red Rebels started the second half strongest, Aidan Dowling once again called to action to prevent a Guy Hall header and a Dylan Mottley-Henry shot. Charlie Bailey had the Dollies first chance of the half on 58 minutes. The cross from Sam Bailey, cushioned down by Cusani and Charlie Bailey saw his effort blocked for a corner.

Lancaster City did have the ball in the net two minutes later, but the referee had already given a free kick for impeding the goalkeeper but on 62 minutes, the games changing point occurred.

Mottley-Henry breached the defensive line once more and forced Aidan Dowling to make a challenge, with the referee awarding a penalty, and up stepped Adam Le Fondre to send Dowling the wrong way.

The best chances in the latter stages of the game fell to Lancaster City. Before Marcus Cusani had his final chance before his substitution. Mottley-Henry made Dowling work again, this time from a header. On 75 minutes Sam Bailey almost scored from a corner but his back post effort was tipped over by Connor O'Keefe.

Three minutes later it was Charlie Baileys turn to make O'Keefe make the save, but his shot was parried to Dom Lawson, who made room for himself but his chance was fired over.

Charlie Bailey was trying to force an equaliser as he waltzed through the FC United defence but was met with an Goalkeeper who was having one of his better games for the Club, as he parried away.

Chris Willcock's men have now not won at home since 9th November. The next chance to change this is on Tuesday 11th February, as Prescot Cables are the next visitors to Giant Axe.