No play-offs but Dolly Blues do Marshall proud
Jimmy Marshall will take nothing but pride and positivity into the off-season after his Lancaster City side missed out on the Northern Premier League play-offs by one point.
Marshall's Dolly Blues did all they could to climb into the top five on the final day, beating bottom club Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-0 in front of 1,187 at the Giant Axe, but Stockton Town sealed the last play-off spot with an 80th-minute winner at Warrington Rylands.
Lancaster won with a goal in each half from Sam Bailey and Nathan Caine, while Christian Sloan captained the side on his farewell appearance before taking up a job in the USA.
Manager Marshall said: “We knew we could only do one thing and that was take care of ourselves. We dealt with the balls into our box brilliantly, the back three defended really well, we've scored two great goals and had a good win.
“t's bittersweet because we wanted to get in the play-offs and we've fallen short by a point, but there's a lot of pride to take from what we've done this season. The lads have been unbelievable and the support was fantastic.
“I don't think many people would have said earlier in the season that we'd finish sixth, so we can take a lot of confidence and positivity into the summer, ready to be bigger and better next season.”
Marshall chose Sloan as his player of the season and added: “He has a great opportunity to start a new life, with a child due in the next month or so. He's a top lad and a top player.”
Other winners at Saturday's end-of-season awards night were Toby Oliver (players' and chairman's player of the season), Brad Kelly (supporters' player and Joe Stephenson Memorial Trophy), Sam Bailey (directors' player and goal of the season v Ilkeston) and Nic Evangelinos (top scorer).
Oliver and keeper Kelly have both agreed contracts for next season, with the option of further year, and Marshall said of the Oliver deal: “That might be the biggest bit of business we do this summer. Toby plays above his years and has been outstanding all season.”
Hednesford Town and Warrington Rylands will contest the play-off final next Monday to determine who goes up to National League North with NPL champions Hebburn Town.