TWISTED Tangerine Cieran Donnelly's petulance and kicking almost robbed Lancaster City of their delight against Blackpool - and almost robbed Nick Rogan of his season after an awful 'friendly' challenge.

The Blackpool midfielder spent 70 minutes whinging and complaining and using his elbow until referee Lee Metcalfe ordered the Blackpool coaching staff to take Donnelly off after an all-out, two-footed centre circle assault on the legs of Rogan.

Metcalfe wasted no time in escorting Donnelly to the bench and threatened to produce a red card before he was finally substituted.

Thankfully, Rogan was okay aside from a couple of bruised legs and he was influential in an excellent win.

The goal arrived just seven minutes before Donnelly's attack and Rogan played a key role, controlling well before setting up ex-City cult hero Chris Ward, who is trying to win a spot back at Giant Axe, and he coolly finished low into the bottom corner.

Blackpool's Heysham-born goalkeeper and captain for the day Lewis Edge never stood a chance and the goal was a moment of pure class as opposed to the crass attitude shown by Donnelly - and perhaps it only right that he missed Pool's best chance of a competitive first half, lobbing wide of the target with only Tony McMillan to beat.

City looked a decent side with Steve Skinner excellent in midfield and Iain Swan a giant rock at the heart of a shored-up and solid defence.

In fact, after the goal and Donnelly's disgrace, Lancaster looked more than comfortable - but McMillan proved his class two minutes from time when he superbly arched his back to push a Danny Coid rocket header over the bar.

And when he caught the resulting corner, Blackpool were done for.

And maybe for Lancaster the future is bright, although Rogan probably doesn't like orange.

Lancaster City: McMillan, Uberschar, Scott, Sparrow, Swan, McMahon, Skinner, Bauress, Jones, Black, Taylor. Subs used: Mahoney, Sullivan, Elderton, Clark, Rogan, Ward, Howson, Eckersley.