[themaclad]

Lancaster City 3 Stratford Town 0 Att 252
Francis og
Winder 2

City eased through to the next round of the FA Trophy by disposing of Southern Midland side Stratford with a three goal first half blitzed. The side from the Bard's town avoided a Shakespearian Tragedy by keeping it to three at full time.
City settled quickly and shrewdly tamed any early threat Town might have had by taking an early lead through an own goal by Francis who whilst trying to clear a Tamm cross put the ball into the net in fairness to the defender a City forward would have scored had he not cleared.
City looked dominant and soon doubled their lead a free kick on the edge of the box after a City player had been hacked down led to a poor free kick by Winder however he retrieved the ball and whipped in a cross which deceived the Town defence and Connor between the sticks to nestle in the bottom right hand corner.
The visitors prior to the goal had come close after a bout of head tennis in the City area but apart from that scare City deservedly lead by two.
City went in at the break three to the good ironically following Town's best period of the half, a Town corner was cleared and Winder was found in acres of space advanced into the box and easily beat Connor to put the game safe.
The second half could have been much ado about nothing but fair play to the visitors they gave it a go although has to be said City took the foot of the pedal. More than useful Jaz Luckie could have had three in the second half, twice hit the side netting when well placed, then suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune when Powell pulled off a fine save to deny a goal bound effort.
Goalkeeping excellence also from Connor at the end to deny City sub Sam Bailey but on a chilly evening which was far from a Midsummer's Dream, City cruised into the next round