Chris Willcock called on his Lancaster City side to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible and they did just that at Giant Axe on Tuesday.

Prescot Cables 1 Lancaster City 1: Late Bennett strike stretches unbeaten record

The Dolly Blues launched their Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy campaign with an emphatic 5-1 home win over North West Counties League club Garstang, the outstanding Nic Evangelinos scoring twice.

It followed their first defeat of the season at Hebburn Town in the Northern Premier League on Saturday.

Two-goal Nic Evangelinos was Lancaster's man of the match in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy Photo: MICHAEL PORTER PHOTOGRAPHY

The Tyneside club scored late in each half, Jack Donaghy winning it for third-placed Hebburn after Charlie Bailey's equaliser had looked like stretching the Dolly Blues' unbeaten start to 10 games.

Manager Willcock told the club's media team: “It was a strong away performance but then a mad two minutes before half-time cost us.

"We have to defend better than that for the second goal. The best response to a loss is to get back to winning ways very quickly.”

Lancaster carried out that instruction against struggling Garstang, who play three levels below, taking the lead after seven minutes.

Latest signing Dylan Thompson converted Harrison Beeden's cross on his home debut. Signed last Friday, defender Thompson is an Everton Youth product, who has played in the USA and recently had a spell with Warrington Rylands.

Evangelinos doubled the lead on 24 minutes, winning a penalty that he fired into the top corner.

Lewis Coulton then headed against the bar but this first competitive meeting between the sides was finely poised at half-time, Garstang's Liam Clegg having made it 2-1.

But Evangelinos added his second within two minutes of the restart and Lancaster cruised to victory. Garstang keeper Sam Junes impressed with some top saves before City added two late goals.

Charlie Bailey tapped in Thompson's cross to the far post on 89 minutes and seconds later Aaron Bennett fired in off the bar.

Lancaster, who stand ninth in the NPL Premier, are next in action at home to Leek Town in the league next Tuesday.

This Saturday's scheduled home game against Guiseley has been switched to Tuesday, October 15 because the West Yorkshire club are hosting Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup.

The Dolly Blues will visit Clitheroe in the FA Trophy’s third qualifying round on October 5.

Lancaster: McClenaghan, S Bailey, Fleming, Allington, Beeden, Thompson, Hall, C Bailey, Lawson, Coulton, Evangelinos; Subs: Byrne, Moonan, Ikpakwu, Bennett, Lucas.

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