Boss Jim Vince had expected the visitors - six points behind Halifax with two games in hand - to trade blows with the Shaymen but nothing could have been further from the truth as they sat back and attacked on the counter.

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And it almost worked for them as they twice had second half chances to steal the points.
That would have been harsh on Halifax who, while they were ultimately disappointing in the final third, deserved something from the game for the sheer amount of possession they enjoyed.
Lancaster showed little ambition early in the game but Town were unable to find a way through with passes missing their intended targets.
Ritchie Sutton nearly got the ball through for Ashley Stott while Nathan Joynes almost found a Sutton run.
Almost, but not quite - and that ended up being the story of the afternoon.
It was not until the 15th minute that the game sprang to life with a chance at either end within 30 seconds.
Lancaster looked odds on to open the scoring when Mark Jackson controlled a Tom Entwistle cross on his chest on the edge of the six yard box but he was denied by a great Cavell Coo challenge.
The Shaymen went straight up to the other end with Stott breaking down the right but his cross was just too high for Joynes to capitalise.
Damien Allen could not do anything with a Junior Brown cross soon after and Lancaster keeper Mark Thornley was put under most pressure by a sliced attempted clearance from Paul Osborne, the keeper being forced to punch clear from under his own crossbar.
Town had good claims for a penalty 11 minutes before the break when Allen crossed from the right for Joynes, who volleyed on the turn. The ball struck Michael Stringfellow on the arm, but the referee was unimpressed.
A minute later Junior Brown's corner was cleared as far as Tom Baker who worked an opening, only to send his left foot shot wide of the target.
Town suffered a blow four minutes before the break when James Riley had to be carried from the field on his home debut after sliding in, along with Coo, to deny Lee Dodgson after Tony Barras had given away the ball.
But they almost broke the deadlock in bizarre fashion in first half stoppage time when Thornley flapped at Baker's free kick from 40 yards and was relieved to turn round to see the ball bounce wide.
The Shaymen were back on the front foot early in the second half and, after Allen's ball in had only been half cleared, Baker tried his luck again. A well struck shot was deflected narrowly off target although the referee, who was poor throughout, failed to see the defender's touch.
Junior Brown and Sutton combined well down the left seven minutes later and the latter's cross found Joynes eight yards from goal but as soon as he had controlled the ball he was surrounded by yellow shirts and the chance had gone.
Stott was unable to test the keeper with a flicked header from Sutton's right footed ball in after 66 minutes and within 30 seconds there was a scare at the other end as Dodgson got free on the right only to fire into the side netting.
Lancaster clearly fancied their chances on the break and should have broken the deadlock after 71 minutes when Jackson raced clear but Town keeper Jon Kennedy held his nerve and saved on the edge of the area at the City striker's feet.
Town returned to the attack with Junior Brown having an effort blocked and David Brown's follow up was saved by the keeper with 15 minutes remaining.
Lincoln Adams then headed over from a Paul Evans corner and, after Junior Brown had cut in from the left, Baker took over and tried his luck from the edge of the area only to fire well over.
Keeper Thornley, who rarely looked entirely comfortable, punched an 85th minute Evans free kick behind for a corner, but as has happened on a couple of occasions recently, from an attacking position Town found themselves short at the back.
The corner was cleared and Dodgson raced away down the right. He played the ball in for Jackson whose shot struck Baker racing back to cover.
Kennedy was left stranded and must have been relieved to see the ball bounce wide of his left hand upright.
Four minutes of stoppage time gave the Shaymen the chance to apply further pressure but they were denied a late winner when Thornley got down well to smother the ball with Baker about to strike.

MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Coo, Adams, Riley (Barnes 43), Barras, Sutton, Baker, Allen (Evans 56), J Brown, Stott (D Brown 70), Joynes. Subs (not used): Senior, Hinsley.
Booked: Baker (foul 37), J Brown (foul 54), Joynes (foul 90), Coo (foul 90)
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Lancaster City: Thornley, Uberschar, Heffernan, Teague, Stringfellow, Entwistle, Osborne, Ward, Haddow, Jackson, Dodgson. Subs (not used): Helliwell, Coar, Wilson, Marshall, Beesley.
Booked: Entwistle (foul 64), Ward (foul 73), Jackson (foul 90)
Sent-off: None
Goals: None
Attendance: 1,116
Referee: D England

STAR SHAYMAN
Having run his blood to water in the midweek win at Clitheroe, Tom Baker was at it again in the goalless draw at the Shay.
The midfielder was Town's most potent striking threat with a couple of shots that flashed just the wrong side of the post.
And he was also the man who got back to get a deflection on a late Mark Jackson shot that might have given the points to the visitors.
In between he put in the tackles, spread the play when he could and ran himself into the ground in Town's cause.
Cavell Coo enjoys getting forward, but it was at the back that he caught the eye in the first half.
Twice he was forced to make crucial interventions as Lancaster City threatened, denying Jackson and then, with the help of luckless James Riley, Lee Dodgson shooting opportunities.
When Junior Brown is on song there are few defenders in the division who can touch him.
And, after a stop-start month due to tight hamstrings, he showed glimpses of what he can do.
He could not be playing himself back into form at a better time for Jim Vince's side.
Baker takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition, with Coo claiming two and Brown one.

PLAYER POINTS
Tom Baker 38, Junior Brown 33, Ashley Stott 19, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Nigel Jemson 11, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Cavell Coo 9, Lincoln Adams 8, Damien Allen 7, Michael Barnes 6, Paul Evans 6, Mark Peers 5, Ritchie Sutton 5, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Luke Hinsley 3, Steve Payne 3, Neil Ross 3, Nathan Joynes 3, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Craig Ellison 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.

YOU SAY
Lacked the killer touch in the final third - good effort though. Nice to see a clean sheet - keep going Shaymen. Bri W7

What a clueless bore yawn but i suppose we dominated for 35 mins. As usual 3 shots at goal in the full 90. I slept through the rest, garbage! Town fan

Adams and Barras are very poor and so is Stott in attack. Dennis of mixenden

We have to beat poor teams like Lancaster and shoot more. angry andy

Time to pension Tony Barras off. Shay man

Lancaster came for a point and got it. Always gonna be hard especially against 12 men - clueless referee. Play-off place slipping away. Ruddy Ric.