Lancaster City 0 Leigh RMI 1 A WEAKENED Lancaster City side lost yet another player through suspension on Saturday when midfielder Matt Flanagan was sent off. There was just two minutes remaining on the clock when Flanagan was shown the red card for mouthing off at the officials for the second time. This means Flanagan joins Boyd, Martin, Dobie and Jones in the disciplinary sin bin which, added to injuries, has left manager Gordon Raynor with a scratch team.

The Blues have yet to reach the Christmas games and City have already fielded 32 players in the first team this season.

Lancaster battled hard on Saturday and although they failed to really penetrate the Leigh defence, a couple of Jimmy Graham free kicks nearly made their mark.

On both occasions former Bolton keeper David Felgate was at full stretch to deny the City skipper a goal.

The first free kick was curled around the wall and Felgate did well to turn it past the upright. He then needed all his reactions to tip another flyer from sneaking in the post.

New signing John Francis beat Felgate but was denied by the woodwork as the first half drew to a close and after the interval Leigh regained their composure to make more of a mark on the game.

City keeper Thornley was on form to deny James and Evans, whose shot clipped the crossbar and it took until the 74th minute for Leigh to take the lead.

Stuart Locke picked up the ball on the edge of the box and chipped a looping ball that sailed over Thornley and into the net.

Grant Leith went on a solo run to try get back into the match but as the desperation to score built up Flanagan frustrations got the better of him and he was sent off.

Lancaster: Thornley, Phillips, Graham, Hartley, Pallant, Flanagan, Leitch, Marshall, Lancaster, Francis (Hoyle) Worthington (Wilson, Evans)

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