REPORT: UNITED 1-0 LANCASTER CITY

BY LOUIS WHEELDON

Jordan Hallam scored within two minutes of his debut as United recorded their second win of the season with a hard-fought and resolute 1-0 win over Lancaster City on Tuesday night.

Hallam's early strike coupled with a fine defensive display and some magnificent saves from Kieran Preston, ensured maximum points stayed in Nottinghamshire to lift Basford off the foot of the table.

In a breathless end-to-end affair that stretched from the first whistle to the last, it was debutant Hallam who struck gold with his first touch for the club by arrowing home into the far post from Brodie Litchfield’s low cross from the left.

Lancaster striker Dom Lawson was guilty of missing a number of gilt-edged opportunities, but no higher plaudits could go to any other person than Preston, who kept out everything aimed his way, including a remarkable treble save within the first twenty minutes that spurred him on to shot-stopping excellence.

The game would not be without further chances for the hosts, as Massiah McDonald carved out two brilliant opportunities with dazzling footwork in the closing stages of the first half and the opening minutes of the second but was twice denied by Andre Mendes in the visitors net.

In addition to a gut-busting shift in the heart of the park, captain Matt Thornhill also found himself testing the goalkeeper with a stinging drive within that was beaten away sternly by Mendes as the second threatened.

Preston recorded seven saves in the opening half alone and faced far less to do in the second 45 minutes as Basford secured their defensive shape, but was still hot on his toes to repel a powerful strike from substitute David Norris as the game entered its final twenty minutes.

Remaye Campbell also saw himself presented with an opportunity to double Basford’s money in the games final stages, latching onto a great cross by young substitute Harvey Ridgley to pull a fine stop at the far post out of Mendes.

McDonald could have, and probably should have, made the night a little easier with a few minutes remaining when, once more, he danced through a parting City defence, but, after leaving defenders in his wake, a low shot was smothered by Mendes and the ball cleared.

Basford sat back and took in the pressure of their visitors well, and remarkable defensive fortitude shown by the Basford backline, featuring debutant Kieran Fenton and the returning Josh Barnes, saw them hold firm for a deserved second win of the campaign.

UNITED: Preston; Roma, Barnes, Frizelle, Fenton; Ritzema, Thornhill (c) (Ridgley 79’), McDonald (Wakefield 61’), Litchfield; Campbell, Hallam
SUBS (not used): Wade, Goddard, Alexander

ATT: 275