A PETER Thomson goal in the final quarter saved a point for Lancaster City in a pulsating game at Stalybridge on Tuesday night.

But the Dolly Blues will feel they could have done better after dominating the opening stages of the affair at manager Phil Wilson's old Bower Fold stamping ground.

Lancaster were by far the livelier side in the opening stages and were rewarded when Steve Jones timed his run perfectly to meet a Neil Prince cross and head in the opening goal.

With Jones and skipper Gary Bauress in charge in midfield, the visitors had most of the possession and all of the openings.

But Stalybridge gradually gained a foothold in the match and began to push City back.

Phil Eastwood fired a warning shot as he missed the target on 35 minutes but then made amends by beating Martin Clark and setting up Paul Sykes to hit a first time shot past helpess City keeper Jamie Speare.

Celtic assumed control after the half time interval and had a stack of chances to go ahead.

And just when it seemed City had weathered the storm, Sykes was again in the right spot to receive a pass from Eastwood, sprint beyond defender Clark and score.

To their credit, City upped the tempo once more in the searcvh for a point. And when Tony Sullivan forced a mistake from Kevin Parr Thomson was on hand to bundle in the equaliser.

CITY: Speare, Sparrow, Clark, Murphy, Scott, Sullivan, Jones, Bauress, Prince, Black, Thomson