Josh Scott’s lone goal was the difference between Stockton Town and Lancaster City at the Map Group UK Stadium.
Scott fired the Anchors ahead five minutes before the interval which proved vital in the final score.
The forward was one of two changes from last week’s heartbreak against Rochdale, with Lewis King also returning from suspension.
Michael Dunwell’s side started the strongest, and could’ve taken the lead within 10 minutes when Josh Scott impeccably controlled a lofted through ball, but he was unable to prod the ball past the lengthy arms of Aidan Dowling.
Four minutes later, Stockton had a golden opportunity presented to them as a sliced clearance perfectly fell to Josh Baggs who was wide open inside the penalty area, but his effort was very well stopped by Dowling.
After a lengthy quiet spell in the game, five minutes before the break, the Anchors did find the opener when Scott was played in-behind the backline and fired a strike past Dowling, whose fingertip wasn’t enough to keep it out of his net.
Half-time: Stockton Town 1-0 Lancaster City
Stockton started the second half aggressively, looking to build on their advantage. Michael Sweet had an attempt early in the half saved comfortably by the Dolly Blues’ shotstopper.
Scott nearly had his second of the game in the 67th minute when Michael Sweet’s cross found his feet perfectly, but the forward carried too much momentum into his effort and fired high over the crossbar.
Even as the game drew to a close, it was Stockton who looked more likely to score, and had a number of good chances to put the game to bed, but nothing threatened the Lancaster goalkeeper.
Stockton comfortably saw out the game in the end, and picked up an important three points in the Play-Off race.
Full-time: Stockton Town 1-0 Lancaster City
The Anchors move up to 6th place, three points behind the Play-Off positions, ahead of Bamber Bridge’s visit to Teesside on Saturday.
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Baggs, Painter, Nicholson, Coulthard (Purewal 85’), Sweet (Roberts 84’), Butterworth, Scott (Fowler 73’), Thompson (Leech 76’), Hayes (Gallacher 89’)
Unused Subs: N/A
Lancaster City: Dowling, Bailey, Coulton, Moonan, Beeden, Thompson, Shaw (Bailey 84’), Sloan (Caine 77’), Mansell (Lawson 59’), Bennett (Evangelinos 58’), Cusani (Abbott 68’)
Unused Subs: N/A
Goals: Scott, 1-0, 40 min
Attendance: 557
Words: Jordan Clarke
Photo: Harry Cook