Lancaster City see unbeaten run ruined by Rushall

Lancaster City's three-match unbeaten run was halted with a 1-0 home defeat by Rushall Olympic on Tuesday.

Marshall targets play-offs after 'sloppy' spell for Lancaster

It followed back-to-back draws for the Dolly Blues, including Saturday's goalless game at Guiseley.

Striker Dom Lawson was January’s player of the month but Lancaster haven’t scored in their last two games Photo: MICHAEL PORTER PHOTOGRAPHY

placeholder image — Striker Dom Lawson was January’s player of the month but Lancaster haven’t scored in their last two games Photo: MICHAEL PORTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Boss Jim Marshall had been hoping to build momentum for a play-off push, though his side now stand eighth and are six points outside the top five.

Striker Luke Enright fired the only goal from a 75th-minute counter-attack as this fixture beat the weather at the third time of asking.

The opening 45 brought few chances until Lancaster threatened late in the half, when Will Amison hooked the ball over, then January player of the month Dom Lawson fired wide from Nic Evangelinos' knockdown.

In the second half Dolly Blues keeper Brad Kelly, whose clean sheet at Guiseley earned plaudits from boss Marshall, was at his best again to turn Enright's shot away for the corner.

But he couldn't deny the striker moments later as Enright's goal lifted the Walsall club five points clear of the relegation zone.

Lancaster had a series of late chances to equalise as Charlie Bailey's free-kick flew over, Lewis Mansell headed wide and fellow substitute Jim Craig was denied by Olympic keeper Jake Laban.

With one point from two home games this month, Marshall will be looking to improve that record when they face mid-table Leek Town at the Giant Axe this Saturday.

The manager had been encouraged by the steady progress of recent weeks. Speaking after the draw in Leeds on Saturday, he told the club's media team: “The lads put a real shift in and we've gone back to basics a little in terms of the way we're playing and what we were doing better earlier in the season.

“We'd have liked a few more points but there's nothing in this division.

"In tight games like that away from home, we have to be pleased with a clean sheet and a point.

“We've gone from a period of not playing a lot to playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, with training sandwiched in between. They are coming thick and fast, so it's all about trying to use the whole squad.”

LANCASTER: Kelly, S Bailey (Craig 67), Amison (Thompson 83), Moonan (Clarke 80), Grand, Oliver, C Bailey, Bjork (Caine 80), Lawson (Mansell 60), Evangelinos, Sloan