LANCASTER City were robbed of their first win of the season as a pair of ridiculous refereeing decisions handed Stalybridge Celtic a point in a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.

City were bang on course to upset one of the favourites for the Conference North crown until referee Paul Tierney awarded Celtic their second penalty of the night.

Ex-City man Neil Prince slotted home his second goal to level the game before Tierney left his indelible mark on the match with a decision that even left Stalybridge baffled.

The excellent Alex Taylor nipped between keeper Paul Pettinger and defender Darren Hockenhill and, faced with an empty net, was guaranteed to complete his hat-trick.

But Pettinger and Hockenhill collided - and Tierney blew up to allow Hockenhill treatment on a shoulder injury.

City boss Phil Wilson was absolutely seething - and no wonder as his team had dominated the first half and deservedly led thanks to Taylor's stunning strike on the turn after 21 minutes.

And when Nick Rogan sent Taylor clear on 63 minutes the former Burnley reserve danced around Pettinger to score his and Lancaster's second with glee.

But as City tired Celtic bombed forward, albeit without much success, until Joe McMahon upended Phil Eastwood.

Up stepped Prince, but Anthony McMillan saved the spot kick well only to see the rebound slammed home.

That was harsh - but when Steve Smith backed into McMahon on 88 minutes no-one in the ground expected a penalty. Tierney pointed to the spot and this time Prince sent McMillan the wrong way before giving the Lancaster bench a two-fingered salute by way of celebration.

That joy should have been wiped off Prince's face in stoppage time - but Tierney had the final say.

"The two decisions at the end were garbage," says Wilson. "Okay, we lost out in midfield in the second half - but we had done so well to go 2-0 up and deserved to win.

"But I cannot understand why the ref blew when Alex was going to score."

CITY: McMillan 8, Eckersley 8, McMahon 7, Swan 7, Scott 7, Elderton 7, Uberschar 8, Jones 7 (Sullivan 80), Dawes 7 (Mahoney 45, 7, Howson 76, 7), Rogan 8, Taylor 9. Subs (not used): Shaw, Bauress.