Lancaster City 4-0 Droylsden

The visitors did themselves no favours with some comical defending throughout the game, whilst Bloods’ defender Peter Dogan was shown a straight red for a headbutt late in the game to compound their misery.

City got off to a bright start, hounding and pressing the Droylsden back-line as they consistently failed in their attempts to play their way out from the back, and got the breakthrough after just five minutes.

After a neat passing play from the hosts Josh Draycott hit a low drive from 20 yards that flew past ‘keeper Craig Ellison into the far corner.

The Dolly Blues had just 15 minutes to wait for their second, gifted by the Bloods.

Simon Wearing intercepted an under-hit pass out from the back, and turned to hit a beautiful curling effort across goal leaving Ellison with no chance.

Lancaster made it three on 30 minutes as the game looked already to be done and dusted.

Sam Bailey easily cut past left back Ali Brown, drove into the box and hit a low cross for Matty Poole to tap home from four yards.

There were still chances for hosts, as Ryan Winder’s drive from the edge of the box was tipped onto the bar, whilst Ellison spread himself well to save from Draycott one-on-one.

Mike Hale was certainly the quieter of the two keepers, but pulled off a fantastic reaction save to deny the lively Fernando Moke from a tight angle.

The second half featured less goal-mouth action, as the visitors had the better of the play in the early stages of the period.

Hale was called upon to tip two long-range efforts over the bar, whilst City’s passing in the final third let them down as they looked dangerous on the counter attack.

The second half flash point arrived out of nothing with 15 minutes to play.

Garry Hunter and Dogan exchanged verbals off the ball before the Droylsden defender went in with his head to spark a melee on the pitch.

Dogan was given his third red card in as many games and three cautions were handed out for the handbags that followed.

Winder wrapped up the points in added time when he picked out the top corner with a smart one-on-one finish, whilst City defended well in the closing stages to wrap up back-to-back clean sheets.

Star Man: Mike Hale - Another top showing from the City stopper.

The Dolly Blues next travel to Spennymoor Town on Tuesday night.