LANCASTER City's season of inconsistency continues, with a spirited come-from-behind derby draw with Barrow followed by a familiar disappointing home loss.

Saturday's game was particularly galling for Tony Hesketh's side, who squandered a penalty as they lost to mid-table Whitby Town.

The visitors are among the league's top scorers this term and City were given an early warning of the danger their opponents post when a Tom Reid free kick wrong-footed Mark Thornley and rattled the crossbar.

The second half saw City presented with a perfect chance to go ahead when Phil Brown was fouled just inside the area.

Brown stepped up himself to take the penalty but perhaps wished he hadn't bothered when the ball crashed into the post.

Worse was to follow - Whitby finally broke the deadlock when Ure's shot hit the post before rebounding to Aaron Wilford, who tapped in from close range.

It got even worse for City when Ricky Mercer was sent off in the last few minutes for a second booking.

There was no way back for City - unlike on Boxing Day when two equalisers added up to a Christmas cracker at Holker Street.

A side without leading scorer Andy Whittaker and losing Paul Sparrow through injury early on, almost took the lead through young Steve Millers, whose mazy run was only halted by a last gasp Graham Anthony tackle.

However, the Dolly Blues went behind on 42 minutes when Michael Holt was put through and took the ball around Thornley.

Lancaster looked good for a share of the points on 72 minutes when Jimmy Love headed home a Brian Welch cross, but disaster struck within two minutes when Thornley fumbled an Anthony cross, which was turned in by Morecambe old boy Ian Arnold.

However, the hard-working Welch secured a share of the spoils inside another two minutes, curling a superb free kick into the net to show why, when fit, he is one of City's most influential players.