THE biggest crowd of the season is expected at Lancaster City's Giant Axe on Saturday for the Unibond First Division game of the campaign. Table topping City are currently on an 18 game unbeaten run while second-placed Lincoln United have come out on top in their last eight games. They square up in what could be a championship decider on Saturday afternoon. The Blues are 10 points clear at the top of the league but Lincoln could close that gap to just one point should they win their three games in hand. A win in Saturday's six-pointer means they could snatch the league title from Lancaster's grasp. City manager Alan Tinsley said: "This is the big game. A win means that we would only have to pick up a few extra points before the end of the season and we are there.

"We beat Lincoln earlier in the season when they were just finding their feet. Obviously they are a very good side but I am very confident and I think we can beat them."

The Blues warmed up for the big clash with a comfortable 4-1 home victory against bottom of the table Great Harwood Town in the first leg of the Unifilla First Division Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

What should prove to be an unassailable lead was mainly down to top scorer Stuart Diggle who showed new striking partner John Coleman how to do it with a hat-trick to take his season's tally to 29.

The City hit-man proved too hot for the Great Harwood defence to handle from the very start. He opened the scoring in the second minute after cutting in from the left.

His second came with 16 minutes on the clock and was brilliantly set up by new boy John Coleman who showed his awareness with an excellent ball into Diggle's path.

The third came just before the break as City's passing game began to break down the visitors' defence. Diggle turned provider with a cross into the path of Mark Shirley who finished well.

Lancaster's second half performance never lived up to the first but they did grab another after 63 minutes, Coleman again flicking the ball on for Diggle to race clear and fire home.

Within minutes the visitors had pulled back what should prove to be a consolation when Steve Whitehead broke through City's defence and beat Mark Thornley.

Great Harwood now need four wins from their last nine games to secure Unibond League Division One status for next season and the Showground side have a free weekend to put in some much needed training before Monday's second leg.

Speaking after their Giant Axe defeat, manager Mick Higgins said: "We're creating loads of chances but have nothing to show for them. It's coming to the stage where I would settle for the ball going in off someone's knee.

"The lads need a boost and they are only going to get that with a win. We can get some light training in and concentrate on our cup clash on Monday.

"We've got the away goal and with a bit of luck we are still in with a shout."

The second leg will be played on March 25. TEAM: Thornley, Curwen, Stimpson, Hartley, Eatough, Gelling, Trainor, Sharples, Diggle, Coleman, Shirley. SUBS: Whittaker, Chilton, Flannery. Lancaster City 3 Whitley Bay 1 CITY'S boys of '96 set a new club league record with Saturday's win over Whitley Bay but they had to come from behind to do it. The club's previous unbeaten league record of 17 games stretched back to the 1922/23 season, this 18th match without defeat left the Blues 10 points clear at the top of the Unibond First Division. Whitley Bay were looking for a win to keep their own promotion hopes alive and they took a shock early lead after 12 minutes when John Cullen fired in a brilliant goal from 25 yards.

City began to get to grips with the midfield battle towards the end of the first half but they had to wait until stoppage time for the equaliser, Paul Byron forcing home a corner.

Lancaster took the lead after 56 minutes when another corner caused havoc in the Bay area and the ball spun past the Whitley 'keeper of what John Coleman claimed was his shoulder.

The three points were secured three minutes from time by Peter Borrowdale who smashed the ball home from close range. TEAM: Thornley, Key, Stimpson, Eatough, Byron, Shirley, Trainor, Flannery, Diggle, Coleman, Borrowdale. SUBS: Curwen, Sharples, Gelling.

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