Lancaster City 1-1 Bamber Bridge

Jake Gregory impressed on his Lancaster City debut on Tuesday night. Picture: Tony North

The visitors were the stronger side on the balance of play, but some superb defending ensured that the Dolly Blues were always in with a chance of taking something from the game.

After taking the lead in the opening stages of the second half, but for one fortunate rebound it could have so easily been the tale of an unlikely, and admittedly undeserved, victory on Tuesday night.

The opening half was largely devoid of action as both teams were locked in a midfield battle where possession of the ball was hard to come by and even harder to retain on a slippery surface.

Michael Donlon was a particular star of the show, putting in a number of impressive stops throughout the game to keep City in the game.

His first half save to tip Jamie Milligan’s dipping free kick round the post the pick of the bunch.

The only chance of note for the mis-firing Dollies in the opening 45 minutes was Ryan Winder’s shot from distance that was comfortably held by Brig ‘keeper Marcus Burgess.

The second half was where the game’s action was to be played out, and it was Lancaster the struck first blood against the run of play on the hour mark with Jake Gregory, on his impressive debut after signing on loan from AFC Fylde, scored a fine solo effort.

Cutting in from the right byline, Gregory glided past the Brig backline and made himself enough space to drill a low left footed strike into the bottom right corner of the net.

After the goal it was a more or less backs-to-the-wall affair for the hosts, who defended valiantly against wave after wave of attack from the visitors.

The equaliser on 70 minutes was cruel to the Dollies, if deserved for the visitors.

Joe Booth’s long-range shot into a crowed box rebounded heavily into the path of winger Chris Marlow who willingly headed into a gaping net.

City held on in the final period of the game, defending effectively in a battling defensive performance that will surely have pleased manager Peacock.

Lancaster City: Donlon, Gregory, Hudson, Davis, Marshall (capt), Hunter, Winder, Akrigg, Pearce, Taylor, Whittington. Subs: Poole, Street, Birch, Breslin, Parkinson.