A MOMENT OF MAGIC from Alex Meaney and some last gasp heroics between the sticks from Martin Fearon earned Lancaster City all three points on Saturday.

Fearon saved two penalties, one a terrific 89th minute stop, to keep a clean sheet and maintain his side’s somewhat faltering play-off push.

This was after the trickery, strength and pace of young midfielder Meaney had crafted an opportunity for Danny Hattersley to score his 22nd goal of the season. The winner in a tight contest.

Fearon’s first showdown from 12 yards came in the first-half and from his own error as he was too slow off the line closing down Declan Fletcher and he sent the striker tumbling.

Ben Wharton stepped up to take the penalty and scuffed an effort to Fearon’s right which he comfortably saved.

Radcliffe, fielding former Barrow manager Darren Sheridan in midfield, were difficult to break down and while City were never really threatened they didn’t do enough with their possession and territory advantage to take the lead in a half low on chances and action.

Hattersley did have one early chance after the ball pinballed around the box but he leaped too early to meet a cross, the ball got too high on him and he headed over the bar.

Rhys Turner started on the right for the Dolly Blues and the young winger showed promise running at the defence, on one particular occasion he drove towards the edge of the box and perhaps should have shot, something that will come with confidence and experience.

Another young star stole the show as Meaney again proved to be the game changer.

His trickery is without question yet on Saturday he also put in a decent defensive shift in a second half when City had their backs to the wall.

He had a great tussle with the experienced Sheridan and was not left wanting.

He showed his class on the hour mark, picking up the ball tight to the line he beat Lee Woodyat with a flash of skill and a burst of pace before pulling the ball back for Turner.

He side-footed the ball goal-wards where Hattersley had timed a run with a true striker’s instinct, the ball barrelled off his hip into the back of the net.

The visitors had a right to feel hard done by as they were largely in control of another flat half of football yet they lacked anything like the tools to break down a stern City defence and when they finally did on 89 minutes they came unstuck.

With Fearon beaten Mark Jones looked certain to score as he hooked the ball towards the goal, yet he didn’t count for the ‘keeping skills of Jack Duggan.

The on-loan centre-back leaped up and tipped the ball over the line, deservedly earning a red card in the process and leaving matters to be settled from the spot.

Adam Kay was chosen to do what his colleague could not, however Fearon dived the right way and beat away his well struck effort to dramatically earn his side the victory.

The Dolly Blues now face a trip to second bottom Wakefield on Saturday where they must buck their trend of losing on the road to keep up their play-off push.

Lancaster City: Fearon 8, Henry 6, Elderton 6, Duggan 6 (red card 89), Gregson 6, Kenyon 6, Turner 7 (Wood 72), Wills 5, Hattersley 6, Swabrick 7 (Clark 70), Meaney 8. Subs not used: Dodgson, Egerton-Wilson, Rothwell

Radcliffe Borough: Campbell, Woodyat, Tickle, Hardaker (King 67), Connor, Mullineux, Kay, Jones, Wharton, Fletcher, Sheridan. Subs not used: Chadwick Bennet

Attendance: 232

Referee: Kevin Mulraine

Starman: Martin Fearon – His late penalty save was brilliant and earned City the points

Find out who are the corporate top dogs in the district with the Lancaster Guardian’s unique ranking of the area’s Top 30 Companies ranked by annual sales.

{http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=3909bb68-912f-4a69-aa85-3f5d52dd49d0|To read more, click here}.

A DRUG dealer has been ordered to pay back more than £8,000 or face further time in jail.

Adam Wilson, 42, of Heysham Mossgate Road, Heysham, was jailed in January 2011 for 30 months for possession with intent to supply cocaine.

At a recent Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Preston Crown Court, the judge deemed that Wilson had benefited from his crimes to the sum of £9,675.

His current assets were set at £8,395 and a confiscation order put in place, meaning he must pay the money within 28 days or face a further five months in prison.

Detective Constable Steve Dixon of Lancashire Constabulary’s proceeds of crime unit said: “Where we see that a criminal has financially benefited from their illegal activities – either by hoarding cash or spending it lavishly – we will seek to strip them of their assets through the courts.

“This can be in the form of taking money, cars – even their homes – and if we become aware that they have other assets in the future we will continue to confiscate them until the full total of their benefit has been met.”

LANCASTER City life president John Bagguley has passed away aged 65.

Mr Bagguley, also the Evo-Stik League vice-president, died peacefully after a short illness yesterday morning.

A brief statement posted on the club’s official website said: “Lancaster City are shocked and deeply saddened tonight to learn of the untimely death of John Bagguley, the club life president.

“John passed away peacefully amongst his family. All at Lancaster City FC would like to send their heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences to his wife Joanne, son Christopher and daughter Gemma.”

For a full tribute see this week’s Lancaster Guardian.

]]> 1.4271312 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:15:49 +0000 http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/appeal_for_return_of_bike_stolen_in_robbery_1_4269861

A MAN was threatened and hit over the head with a chair before three robbers stole his bike.

The incident happened at 11.50pm on Saturday, February 18, at a flat on Heaton Road in Lancaster.

The victim was not seriously hurt but is keen to be reunited with his bike.

The bike is a black ‘Specialised’ ‘Rock Hopper’ mountain bike with white stripes on it, white seat, white grips and white suspension.

There is also a dent on the centre crossbar.

Detective Constable Tim Dodgson from Lancaster CID said: “We are appealing for anyone with information about this incident to come forward and contact police.

“We are also keen to trace the bike that has been stolen and if anyone has any details of his whereabouts then we would ask them to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call Lancaster police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

MORECAMBE and Lancaster residents will not be able to call Westmorland General Hospital’s main telephone number between 11pm on Tuesday, February 21 and 2am on Wednesday, February 22.

An essential upgrade to the telephone system at the hospital will be taking place.

During this time, it may not be possible for members of the public to call the hospital’s main telephone number directly.

To ensure their call can be connected to the relevant department during the upgrade, members of the public are advised to dial the switchboard at Furness General Hospital on 01229 870870.

]]> 1.4269539 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:28:39 +0000 http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/book_review_jezebel_by_eleanor_de_jong_1_4255271

Jezebel – most recognise her as the notorious Biblical figure synonymous with power but forever tainted by her reputation as a treacherous ‘painted lady.’ Is her Old Testament story the truth, partly the truth or just a pack of lies?

The Book of Kings tells us that the Princess of Tyre who became Queen of Israel set off a period of bitter religious and political strife when she persuaded her husband to abandon the Jewish God Yahweh and worship the Phoenician god Baal.

By angering the vengeful Israelite priests, she signed her own death warrant...

Jezebel is the second sweeping and seductive Biblical saga from Eleanor de Jong who has found fertile territory in the ancient Holy Land for epic tales about some of the most controversial women of all time.

She specialises in taking female figures demonised by a history recorded predominantly by men and reimagining their loves and lives for a modern audience.

De Jong’s first novel, Delilah, featured the woman who famously seduced and betrayed Israelite leader Samson, and now she sets her sights on the beautiful and much-maligned Jezebel.

Jezebel, headstrong and determined, is destined to be married by her father King Ithbaal of Tyre as a pawn in a political game.

Led to believe that handsome Jehu, a Judean prince, will be chosen as her husband, she begins an illicit and passionate affair with him when he stays at her father’s court.

But when Jezebel is told she must instead marry Ahab, the middle-aged and shabby King of Israel, Jehu believes she has cruelly betrayed him.

Her destiny now lies with Ahab in Samaria, a city built on a great flattened mountain, where she is resented by her husband’s first wife and the Israelite priests who regard her as a ‘gaudy Phoenician harlot’ with ‘false gods.’

The years pass, and both Jezebel and Jehu nurse their secret. Jehu, unable to relinquish his love for Jezebel, grows bitter and twisted. But he is unaware of Jezebel’s greatest secret – that he is father to her eldest son, Ahaziah, the heir to Israel′s throne.

As her husband’s health deteriorates, Jezebel gradually assumes control of Israel but hatred of her is being fanned by firebrand prophet Elijah, one of the towering figures of the Old Testament, and his terrifying disciple Elisha.

And as they plot her downfall, Jehu circles closer and it seems the die has been cast. Can Jezebel finally take control of her own destiny or has her time already passed?

Grand in its scope and enthralling in its evocation of a courageous and doomed queen, Jezebel will delight fans of both history and romance.

(Avon, paperback, £7.99)