Points shared

The game between Lancaster City and ex league club Darlington 1883 promised to be a good game on paper, out on the pitch it was a different matter. Both sides cancelled each other out in a game without a lot of goal mouth action.
First half action was contained to the middle of the pitch with Lancaster probably shading the first 45 minutes. The only notable effort on goal came from Mahoney for the home side, it ended up in the gardens behind the goal.
Thompson worked hard for the visitors but rarely did they get within striking distance of the home goal.
Half time the open air bar was full with fans from both sides taking advantage of a quick pint of Lancaster Bomber, possibly in the future, most clubs at this level should turn the terraces into a cafe society drinking a pint whilst discussing the finer points of the action in front of them, seems a sensible way to go.
The second half was dire,, one early Darlington effort and a couple of shots from City’s Wearing in the middle of the half were the sum total of action that took place.
The referee mercifully ended the game, as the fans drifted away the rain began and there was a bit of Autumn chill, the nights are drawing in.
A forgettable game.

Lancaster City 0 Darlington 1883 0 Att 594

Points shared

On a night when the so called Champions league took up air time on TV, Preston and Bradford City played out an entertaining 2 all draw at Deepdale. City backed be a noisy 2910 fans looked a club that is going upwards in more ways than one.
The club has had tremendous upturn in fortune in the last few years with two trips to Wembley last season annd they are also a team of giants, non more than man mountain James Hansen who was a threat in the air all night.
As North End found out after 5 minutes when a cross from the right was headed down past Rudd to give the visitors an early lead. North End struggled to cope with the big man in the early stages and added to that threat was lively pacey winger Kyel Reid.
Reid could have made it two when a mazy run lead to his dipping shot squirming through Rudd and onto the post and away to safety, Wright then pulled out a stunning defensive header to keep the deficit a one.
Out of the blue on the half hour North End levelled, Laird's free kick found Clarke unmarked at the back post and he headed past McLaughlin and into the net. (1-1)
Half tiem came and went as North End upped the pace and looked far better although De Vita's effort for City should have hit the target instead of the wasting the opportunity.
McLaughlin then superbly saved Humphrys shot, but within a few minutes the save didn't matter as the home side went ahead, same method Laird free kick, back post, Wright this time unmarked goal. City didn't earn from the first goal.
The lead didn't last long City equalised from a corner McArdle getting in front of his man to head home from close range. (2-2)
Reid went close and a thunderous Folan volley were kept out by Rudd. Hansen thought he had got the winner but was given offside. 
Credit to City they play to their strengths and it's highly effective.
The referee had a shocker and a final word on Kyel Reid, good talent, goes down far to easily although the referee gave up being fooled by him after the 65th time he went down.

Preston North End 2 Bradford City 2 Att 11200

Swift exit

Any realistic chance of Preston reaching the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy disappeared after 10 minutes, in that time Oldham were two up, could have been five as the much changed home side capitulated to early Oldham pressure.
Oldham took their time with the first goal, 16 seconds to be precise, dodgy defending on the left hand, cross into the box and Philliskirk's total mishit

dribbled into the net.
Carnage followed in the next nine minute, Stuckmann saved one from Mills, almost let a back pass into the net, he got ironic cheers the next time he touched the ball(did not amuse him)
Then came the second North End gave the ball away , cross form the right this time and Wesolowski expertly buied the ball in the neat Great finish.
80 minutes to the final whistle promised to be a long night.
The first half followed the pattern of the visitors keeping the ball when they did lose it the home side generously passed it back. A smattering on boos at half time, not surprising really.
Two substitutions, a change of formation(442) and the home side immediately looked better,just a matter of time until the home side would score three times and snatch a glorious victory, well it would have been if Joe Garner had had his scoring boots on, missed a catalogue of chances, only downside of a decent performance by him. A Clarke header was cleared off the line, Oldham rarely threatened in the second period and as a crowd of 5900 started to drift away you knew a comeback wasn't going to happen.
So farewell JPT, on the other hand desperately cold Tuesday nights in November and December will be avoided watching the next couple of rounds.

Preston North End 0 Oldham Athletic 2 Att 5900

Derailed

The months of October,November and December have been extremely mean to Preston in the last three years in fact their last home league win in these months was in December 2010 with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich Town, so today's home defeat to Crewe Alexandra was no real surprise.
The home side started well, Laird forcing Phillips to a save from the first attack of the game from the resulting corner Hume hit the bar. From then on in it would not get any better. A Beavon effort went close but then against the run of play the Alex scored through Moore, he waltzed through the defence and slid the ball under Rudd.(0-1)
North End piled on the pressure but could not level before the break.
The early stages of the second half were similar Davies went narrowly wide with a header, but ponderous build up play caused the Alex little problems, and it was no surprise when Alex broke away half way through the half to increase their lead, the initial break was cleared but the ball ended up at the feet at Inman who curled a great shot round Rudd to secure the points for Alex.
Soon after they hit the bar, which would have added insult to injury if it had gone in. The Railwaymen they started to waste time and go down injured for the slightest thing much to the home fans disgust, the frustration finally erupted from one loan fan when ex Preston loan player Aneke went down deep in injury time, the shout of "You were **** when you were here, your still **** now, piss off" It was that kind of afternoon.

Preston North End 0 Crewe Alexandra 2 Att 9268

Easy

Lancaster cruised through to the 2nd round of the FA Trophy with a 6-0 win over New Mills, it could have been more but for some over elaboration in the second half.
It could have been all so different if Meakin’s effort had not rattled the bar after about 20 minutes after an even period of play.
City had made a couple of changes after Tuesday night defeat and looked altogether sharper, New Mills looked useful going forward with goal scorer supreme Fish playing for them, however it was the lack of any defence which did for New Mills.
Within 10 minutes of Meakin’s miss, Wills, Marshall and Akrigg had scored three times, the pick being Marshall’s flicked header from a free kick. By half time it was four as Ince hammered home a left footed shot after good work on the left by Kilfin.
The half time conversation was how many more would City get, it was only two. Credit though to the visitors who didn’t give up and were very close to reducing the arrears when a 30 yards shot by the left back went narrowly wide.
City missed chance after chance until they were gifted a fifth when the Millers keeper duffed a clearance straight to Ince who chipped the ball back over him into the empty net.
Millers thought they had scored late on but the ball was cleared from the line by Marshall, deep into injury time Jackson made it six and City now have the delights of Seel Park, Mossley in the next round.

Lancaster City 6 New Mills 0 Att 163

Cup Exit

Lancaster City’s exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Curzon Ashton was tame, the visitors dominated apart from a win or bust effort from the home side as the visitors tired in the lat 15 minutes.
Both sides were unbeaten in all matches prior to kick off and understanderbly the play was cagey, chances were few and far between as defences dominated, although that said Curzon had two efforts which should possibly have resulted in goals, whilst City thanks to a stunning solo run should have scored his shot being scooped wide, should have hit the target.
The game seemed destined to be 0-0 at halftime but on the stroke of the interval with City’s defence split a cross was heading towards an unmarked Curzon forward, Marshall in his effort to clear the ball only managed to put it past his own keeper into the net. (0-1)
Curzon went close with a shot from distance but were not to be denied for long when a header across goal found Rowney who headed over the keeper into the net.(0-2)
City keeper Hale saved well to stop the visitors adding another as City struggled to get out of their own half. The introduction of three City substitutes perked the home side into a sustained period of attack towards the end of the game, Green in the Curzon goal produced one stunning save and managed to block the rebound which was also goal bound, Jackson shot over when well placed, deep into injury time Jackson scored for the home side. (1-2)
There was still time for a Curzon player to get a red card for a stamp on a home defender and with virtually the last kick of the game Akrigg was inches away from levelling the score.
In truth Curzon deserved the win and good luck to them in the next round away at Stourbridge.

Lancaster City 1 Curzon Ashton 2 Att 249