Ashton United 4 Lancaster City 1: A difficult start to the season for the Dollies
Defeat on the road started Lancaster City’s 2026/27 season.
A difficult start to the season saw Lancaster City fall to a 4-1 defeat against a clinical Ashton United side in the NPL Premier, writes CONNOR PHILIPSON.
The Dollies took the early lead after a debut goal from Sekouba Sanogo, but a missed penalty added to defensive woes on the day.
Jimmy Marshall made five changes to the side that drew with Heaton Stannington in City’s final pre-season friendly.
Cameron Graham, Simon Grand, Dylan Moonan, James Nolan and Steven Yawson came into the XI.
After dealing with a brief early period of Ashton pressure, the Dollies worked their way on top.
Moonan came close to heading them in front on 10 minutes, with Ashton goalkeeper Tommy Taylor forcing his effort inches wide from close range.
The Robins responded well though, with a volley from Al Byrne dipping just over the crossbar.
Graham then made a fantastic save to push a fierce free-kick from Kurt Willoughby over the bar.
Lancaster managed to get themselves back up the field on the break and got the perfect reward on 16 minutes.
Joe Amison won the ball back before whipping a beautiful cross into the danger area, where it was met by Sanogo and he opened the Dollies’ account for the 2026/27 season.
The home side drew level 10 minutes before the break, as a stunning strike from Reece Kendall found the far corner.
Ashton United meant business as they came out for the second half, scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes.
A quickfire set-piece double from centre-back partnership Nathan Okome and Dylan Cogill meant the Dollies had to fight back from a two-goal deficit.
They went the right way about it as Sanogo was dragged down in the penalty area after getting past his man, only for Taylor to beat away Nic Evangelinos’ spot-kick.
The home side then went straight up the other end and put daylight between the two teams, with an emphatic finish from Danny Turner on 66 minutes.
Ashton United: Taylor, Lufudu, Kendall (Geddes 70), Cogill, Okome, Spooner, Byrne (Knight 73), Turner, Willoughby (O’Neill 73), Osei (Doro 90), Hardy (Johnson 73).