by MATT DONLAN PANTOMIME season arrived at the Giant Axe on Saturday with Lancaster City the understudies to the stars of Hinckley United.

The Leicestershire visitors were both goodies and baddies on a day fans were left to call he's behind you' at City defenders as goal-machine Paul Barnes took top billing.

Ex-Burnley, Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town man Barnes, nearly 37 with some 300 career goals to his name, was far too good for City's under-strength defence.

But Hinckley also provided the pantomime villain in the shape of substitute Leon Jackson, who was sent off as tempers frayed in stoppage time.

The Dolly Blues suffered the worst possible start as Hinckley took the lead inside two minutes - a smart-one-touch move cutting a swathe through the defence before another 400-league game veteran, Stuart Storer, shot home.

City had barely touched the ball and Hinckley's travelling fans again a pantomime theme, this time bad singing were delighted. And they should have had more to celebrate seconds later when Jamie Lenton, in acres of space 15-yards from goal, couldn't decide whether to cross or shoot.

Fortunately for City, he did neither as the home side asked serious questions about their marking, especially of Barnes.

But under Phil Wilson, Lanc-aster are too good a side to lie down and they fought to force their way back from the early jolt despite being restricted to long-range efforts as Hinckley attacked at will.

And when Barnes, on his own in the six-yard box, made it 2-0 it looked game over. In fact, had the stocky striker had a better aim one shot finished up closer to Heysham than the goal City would have been hammered by half-time.

Ryan Zico Black and Martin Clark saw shots fizz the wrong side of the woodwork as City tried to up their game and they came out for the second half with more direction.

Neil Prince and Tony Sullivan forced United keeper Tommy Whittle into good saves before City's best spell came to an end with Barnes ghosting from his marker to make it 3-0.

Hinckley also had good penalty appeals waved away and that seemed to affect them as Lancaster lifted their fans with a rousing finish.

Sullivan's free kick from the right found Joe McMahon and he planted a header home from six yards after 89 minutes.

Seconds later Whittle brilliantly denied McMahon from an identical position following another curling Sullivan free kick.

Hinckley were under the cosh now and in stoppage time Black went down under a challenge from Richard Lavery. Referee Phil Tierney pointed to the spot and while City prepared to take the penalty, sub Jackson threw a daft punch at Black 10-yards away.

Jackson, despite a virtuoso performance in protest, saw red for his actions before Ian Dawes crashed the ball home to make it 3-2 - though there was not even time for Hinckley to re-start.

CITY: Speare, Clark, Scott, Sparrow, McMahon, Elderton, Dawes, Jones, Sullivan, Black, Prince (Stanhope, 86). Unused subs: Gibbons, McCulloch, Garry, Yeomans.

City have been drawn at home to Carlisle United in the first round of the FA Youth Cup. The game takes place at the Giant Axe on Tuesday, September 14 (kick-off 7.30pm