LANCASTER City made hard work of getting past Durham City in their FA Cup first round replay on Tuesday night. The side from the North East looked a better side than their Northern League status would suggest.

Like many clubs in that part of the world, Durham have opted out of football's 'pyramid' because they don't like the travelling.

That might explain why their team bus gave up the ghost somewhere near Kendal, causing a 15 minute delay to the kick-off.

Meanwhile, the referee was arriving at Christie Park, where he thought he was running the line, only to be told that he was expected down the road.

After two minutes, Durham must have been wishing they hadn't bothered, as Brian Welch scrambled home a shot to put the home side ahead.

However, they came back into the game and, on 16 minutes, scored a quality equaliser, with a lob from the left hand side of the penalty area which left Mark Thornley helpless.

However, with half time approaching Paul Haddow was able to put City back in front with a well taken goal from a characteristic late run on to a Colin Potts cross.

City's lead never looked in danger from then on, though Durham had a scary moment when a Potts shot slipped through the legs of their substitute keeper, only to be stopped on the line.

Said manager Tony Hesketh: "On Saturday, I thought they were a bit scared of us, but tonight they grew in confidence after their goal, which was a great strike.

"The performance was a bit patchy, as it has been all season, but we have made progress, and once you are past the first round you have as good a chance of anybody."

However, Hesketh sounded a cautionary note for those city fans already dusting down the football league ground guide.

"I've been involved in the FA Cup with a variety of clubs for 18 years, and so far I've only made it to the first round twice," he admitted. With a home game against South Yorkshire side Stocksbridge Park Steels to come in the third qualifying round, followed by just one more hurdle, this could be the year for that record to change.

RESULT: Lancaster City 2 Durham City 1