Stalybridge Celtic 3
LANCASTER CITY 1

THE Duke sunk brave Lancaster City - but not before the Dolly Blues gave Stalybridge Celtic a real scare at Bower Fold.

Lee Ellington's blistering hat-trick was enough for Celtic, who at times, couldn't break down City's resolute defence.

A dozen corners in the opening 15 minutes suggested that City could be on the end of a real hiding - but they refused to throw in the towel as keeper James Brindle made three good early stops.

But he was beaten on 16 minutes when ex-Lancaster man Neil Prince danced down the wing and crossed for Ellington who made no mistake.

The goal rocked City, although Lee Sparks forced a smart save out of Simon Bishop after great skill took him past the veteran defender Tom Cowan as though the was a training ground cone.

Cowan, who has tasted glory at the likes of Huddersfield Town, Burnley and Carlisle United, was made to look a fool by Sparks and it took the very best from Bishop to keep the ball out.

At the other end Brindle made another good stop to push a Paul Sykes header away after Ellington created confusion in the box before Ryan Elderton and Jimmy Love looked to create openings.

And they made the most of one chance moments into the second half as Aaron Helliwell kept his nerve to finish with style to put City back on level terms and in with the chance of rare points.

But those hopes disappeared when Ellington headed home a Ben Smith cross on 69 minutes before the striker converted his and Stalybridge's third seven minutes later, again from a Smith cross.

Then right at the death Kevin Brown cleared an Ellington effort off the line - and Celtic's 18th corner of the game was cleared.