LANCASTER City got their season off to a flier with a controversial yet deserved win at Harrogate Railway Club.

In a true game of two halves City at first cruised and then battled their way to a deserved victory.

City boss Barrie Stimpson was delighted with his team who grabbed an injury time winner despite having Guy Heffernan sent off.

He said: "We looked bright and after going two goals up they were always going to come at us in the second half. I'm pleased with the win."

They got off to a great start when on 11 minutes left-back Neil Marshall scored with a powerful header.

Winger Lee Dodgson whipped in a free kick from the right and Marshall rose to head past Harrogate 'keeper Liam Sutcliffe.

Sutcliffe looked shaky and struggled to collect a series of high balls which eventually let City in for their second.

A long ball forward from City 'keeper Mark Thornley left Sutcliffe flapping and Dave Foster pounced, rounding the floundering 'keeper before smashing home.

Foster was duly rewarded for his strike when he was scythed down a minute later by Harrogate midfielder Damian Dunne, who was fortunate to only get booked.

The Dolly Blues were dominant throughout the first half and barring one smart save veteran 'keeper Thornley, who was making his 450th appearance for the club, was largely redundant.

However as the teams ran out for the second half it appeared the script had been changed.

Harrogate came out scrapping for every ball and City simply could not settle.

The home side's midfielders seemed to have new found composure and space which they used to punish City. The fight-back began on 54 minutes when Scot Ryan rose highest to place a looping header into the far corner.

Three minutes later Ryan struck again. The ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he hit a fizzing half volley into the bottom corner.

In a bid to change the run of play Stimpson sent on Aaron Helliwell for Rushton, switching Dodsgon to the right with Helliwell operating down the left.

He also made a straight swap of lively striker Paul Fildes for Mark Jackson, which turned out to be decisive. On 85 minutes came the turning point.

An off the ball incident between Harrogate substitute Guisseppe Downing and Heffernan was brought to the referee's attention by his assistant.

The assistant saw an elbow from Heffernan and advised the referee to show him a red card, which he duly obliged.

With the away side down to 10 men Harrogate threw caution to the wind and the game opened up.

City hit them on the counter attack to snatch the win, in controversial style. Helliwell broke free inside his own half and exchanged passes with Jackson.

Jackson and Harrogate left back Matt Morgan then switched sports and began wrestling in the centre of the pitch.

Other players got involved but the referee did not stop play and an unperturbed Helliwell raced through and neatly tucked the ball away to snatch the win.