Lancaster City 2, Spennymoor 0

LANCASTER took a while to warm up but, when they did, this victory against bottom club Spennymoor was little more than a formality.

The Durham club are free falling in the league but City manager Tony Hesketh warned his players against complacency.

By the time the final whistle sounded, City really should have doubled their score.

For the opening 25 minutes Spennymoor made a show of it, with lively passing football that fortunately for City began to crumble as they edged closer to the goal.

But a lethargic looking City couldn't get to grips with the game either and when Kenny Myers was turned over in the box in the 28th minute, the converted Chris Ward penalty came as something as a surprise.

Hesketh changed the shape of the team in the break, with Dickenson replacing Potts and Lee Clitheroe picking up the right wing which had the desired effect.

There was more bite and Spennymoor were forced onto the defensive.

After just missing the target in the 54th minute, Ward found the target five minutes later when a header looped over the stranded keeper.

The visitors had a brief chance of getting back into the game but an unmarked Andrew Allen headed straight at Thornley.

And for the final 20 minutes it was City all the way with chipped shots, narrow misses and a couple attempts scrambled off the line.

Hesketh is now hoping the Blues will meet up with their arch rivals Morecambe in the later stages of the Lancashire Trophy where he's confident his team will give the Shrimps a run for their money.

Team: Thornley, Sparrow, Graham, Clitheroe, Kilbane, Mayers, Martin (Welch) Clitheroe, Ward, Brown, Potts (Dickenson) Sub: Sharrock.