A goal in each half saw Lancaster City defeated at the Giant Axe on Saturday.

Lancaster City fell to a 2-0 defeat against NPL Premier leaders Cleethorpes Town on Saturday, writes CONNOR PHILIPSON.

A hard-fought contest at the Giant Axe saw Lancaster huff, puff and knock the ball around nicely in the second half.

However, they found it difficult to break down a stubborn Cleethorpes defence which kept a 10th league clean sheet of the season.

There were a handful of changes to the starting side which drew at FC United of Manchester as Sidi Fofana, Dylan Moonan and Steven Yawson came back into the fold.

The first half-chance fell the Dolly Blues’ way as Yawson floated a curling effort just wide of the far corner.

As the game approached the 10-minute mark, Cleethorpes defender Callum Foster opened the scoring when heading in from a corner.

The Dollies came within inches of responding 12 minutes later, when Fofana’s 20-yard effort was deflected just inches wide of the bottom corner.

At the other end, Brad Kelly made a fantastic reflex save from close range to deny Cleethorpes captain Bailey Conway 10 minutes before half-time.

After the break, the visitors came mightily close to a second as Josh Walker tapped onto the inside of the post before Joe Amison managed to clear.

Lancaster began to apply some second-half pressure with a lengthy spell of possession, but the closest they came was when Charlie Bailey smashed over a fierce volley from a tight angle.

Kelly tipped over a 20-yard volley from Cleethorpes substitute Liam Hughes before they sealed victory with 13 minutes left.

Hughes was tripped by Kelly, having attempted to round the goalkeeper, and then lashed home the resulting penalty.

Kyle Brownhill headed into the keeper’s arms three minutes later before the full-time whistle was blown.

Lancaster City: Kelly, Flanagan (Caine 66), Brownhill, Amison (Lawson 78), Oliver, Fofana (Nolan 84), Tweedley, Moonan, Evangelinos (Mansell 84), C Bailey (S Bailey 89), Yawson.

Cleethorpes Town: Battersby, Gallimore, Grist, Ravenhill, Bramwell, Foster, Fewster (Hughes 58), Conway (Wilson 84), Walker (Ackroyd 78), Ainley (Braithwaite 58), Pavan (Blunden 58).