NICK Rogan grabbed his first goal in a Lancaster City shirt as the Dolly Blues tuned up for the Nationwide Conference North campaign with a 2-1 win at Clitheroe.

Rogan struck in style to seal a tough game at Shawbridge as City weaved some second half magic deep in Pendle witch country.

Falling behind after seven minutes, the Dolly Blues struggled for rhythm during a first period with Tony McMillan making a couple of decent saves in the shadow of historic Pendle Hill and Clitheroe Castle.

But Lancaster Castle was always more important than East Lancashire's own fortress - and after the break the city's football team towered over their Clitheroe counterparts to dominate and earn a big morale boosting success.

Ian Dawes levelled from the penalty spot and then managed to send another spot kick wide of the target after excellent work from Rogan - who gave his best showing since moving over the water from Morecambe - led to the striker being hacked down in the box.

But City were not to be denied and with time running out Rogan won the match.

Tony Sullivan's pin-point corner was flicked on at the near post by Joe McMahon and Rogan spun on a sixpence to lash the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.

That goal cheered City's vocal travelling support as Phil Wilson's men gave the best indication yet that, despite a cut to the budget, they may be a force in Conference North this season.

At times after the break Clitheroe couldn't live with Lancaster's sharp passing with Ryan Elderton impressing in midfield and Alex Taylor looking a real danger with his running and off-the-ball movement.

Lancaster City: McMillan, Uberschar, Elderton, Sparrow, McMahon, Mahoney, Dawes, Skinner, Jones, Taylor, Black. Subs: Eckersley, Rogan, Davies, Sullivan, Yeomans.