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Nantwich
Town 2 Clitheroe 3
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Glory for Blues as Reynolds seals title.
After 42 games the league table
doesn't lie - and by 5pm Saturday night it showed
Clitheroe had deservedly been crowned as North
West Counties League champions. Celebrations
were to carry on well into the night, and after
another superb away victory, the Blues had every
right to celebrate.
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After all the ups and downs of recent weeks,
Clitheroe entered the game with their destiny
still in their own hands. A point was all that
was required to secure the title, but as so often
happens over the course of the season, the Blues
provided entertainment right up to the final
whistle. With a comfortable halftime lead, the
majority of Blues supporters were preparing party
plans but two quick second half goals from the
home side set up a nervy final quarter,
eventually settled by a fantastic Neil Reynolds
goal to start the celebrations in earnest.
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Both sides struggled to come to
terms with a hard and bouncy pitch in the opening
exchanges, with neither goalkeeper being tested,
and a weak shot from Griggs, easily saved by Kris
Richens, was the only real chance. Clitheroe
gained the all-important goal on 25 minutes
courtesy of Gary Jackson. Martin
Aspinwall played a neat through ball to Jackson
who, from a tight angle, managed to slot the ball
past the on-rushing keeper. Jackson again came
close moments later when his sweet volley was
well saved low down by Heeps in the Nantwich goal.
On 35 minutes the Blues looked to be well on
their way to glory when Jackson headed home the
second goal of the afternoon. A free kick was
floated into the six-yard box and Gary
Jackson, completely unmarked, made no
mistake with his powerful header.
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Having been totally outplayed in
the first half, Nantwich started the second
period in the ascendency. On 56 minutes Richens
made a tremendous reflex save from a close range
Knight header that was parried out for a corner.
Substitute Lawton then saw his shot blocked as
the watching Mossley fans began to believe a
miracle could still be on the cards. Clitheroe
hearts will have skipped a beat on 62 minutes
when Paul Stansfield appeared to handle the ball
in the area. The referee decided it was ball-to-hand
though and waved the protests away. Steve
McDonald then almost recreated his golden goal
against Trafford earlier in the season on 70
minutes as he ran the length of the pitch but
shot wide. Just seconds later and Nantwich
provided themselves and Mossley a glimmer of hope
when Lawton shot home. Clitheroe then lost Stuart
Todhunter to injury following a horrendous tackle
from Nantwich captain Knight. Knight only
received a yellow card when a red one looked
inevitable and worse was to follow when he headed
home on 75 minutes to pull the scores level. Now
being cheered on by the visiting Mossley
supporters, Nantwich looked for the killer third
goal. Clitheroe's defence was holding though, as
the Blues fans watched on nervously. Title
celebrations, however, were finally started on 85
minutes with a classic counter-attacking goal.
McDonald was released down the right hand side
and his pace enabled him to cross the ball in to
Lee Cryer. A sublime back heel from the Clitheroe
front man fell invitingly to Neil
Reynolds and he stroked a first-time
shot low past the keeper into the far corner. The
players went crazy and several Clitheroe fans
were on the pitch joining in the celebrations as
the reality began to dawn that the club were on
their way to the title.
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Seven minutes of stoppage time
came and went without any further chances and
when the referee finally blew for full time, Lee
Sculpher and his team could proudly call
themselves the North West Counties League
champions.
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Players celebrate success.
The jubilation of the Clitheroe
team was clear for all to see after the side
lifted the NWCFL First Division trophy at
Nantwich - a culmination of several years hard
work at the club.
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Top scorer Lee Cryer
said: "Days like this make it all worthwhile,
its been a long and hard season and I knew that
it would be. Scully has got a decent squad
together and I'm sure he'll bring a few more
players in and attack the UniBond First Division.
I'm glad I came back because I wasn't playing at
Rossendale and at the end of the day we've won
something."
Club captain Adam Gardner said:
"Its not been won at Nantwich, its been won
by all the graft that has been put in over the
season. Its been the work of 20 or so lads who
have put in the effort over the season, a few of
them aren't here, but its all down to their hard
work. I know its a bit of a cliche but at this
time of the year you need to have 11 captains out
on the pitch and that's what we had."
Match winner Neil Reynolds said:
"I hadn't trained all week due to my
hamstring injury. I've come off the bench with 20
minutes to go at 2-1 and when it went to 2-2 our
hearts went down a bit, but Lee Cryer's done
awesome for the goal - he laid it off and I just
had to tuck it away."
Ever present keeper Kris Richens
said: "If we were going to do it, it was
always going to be like that, it was going to be
one of those last kicks of the season. Its superb
and everyone deserves it. I'm over the moon, its
nice to get there in the end."
An ecstatic Chris Whittingham:
"It feels absolutely fantastic, its been
three, four long years, we've been runners-up
season after season - it just feels like a
combination of all those seasons' hard work. It
means a lot to me to be a winner and it means a
lot to these lads after all we've been through
together, and hopefully we can crack on next
season at the UniBond title."
Barrie Hart added: "We've
been runners-up many times in the seven years
that I've been at the club so they deserve this
and I'm not putting this trophy down! I love the
place, its a great club, great supporters, great
lads and let's have a go at the UniBond. This is
better than the trophies I won at Accrington
Stanley and I was gutted when I left Clitheroe to
play in the UniBond Premier. I had to have a go
at it, but this beats it all. I travel 80 miles
to play at home and its worth every mile."
And 2 goal hero Gary Jackson
said: "Its been the best season ever - the
lads, the manager are brilliant, I've learned a
lot off Lee Cryer and I'm really happy we've won
the league. I was a bit annoyed about getting
injured and then it was hard getting my place
back in the side but I'm glad Scully gave me
another chance. The manager said after the game
that he'd keep us all together as a team, and I
think we'll have a really good go at the UniBond."
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"Blues Eye View"
by Andy Alston.
Congratulations to Clitheroe FC -
league champions! It doesn't matter how many
times I say it, I still believe it sounds better
every time. A fantastic achievement for everyone
connected with the club was celebrated long and
hard on Saturday. The day contained so many
highlights that its difficult to try and pick out,
or even remember, key moments of the proceedings.
Firstly there was the sight of the team
encouraging and succeeding in getting club
stalwart Keith Lord to go with captain Adam
Gardner to collect the trophy.
Secondly would have to be the journey home on the
team coach after the game. I think its safe to
assume that anyone travelling on the M6 on
Saturday night will have been fully aware that
Clitheroe were champions, thanks to the amount of
noise and singing that didn't ever seem like
ending.
Finally, there was the sight of Barrie Hart
taking good care of the trophy all evening,
ensuring that it was never out of his hands. He
quickly learned how to drink beer without even
putting the trophy down, perhaps something we
need to learn ourselves before Presentation
Evening.
If I had to pick a favourite moment though it
would be when the team arrived back at Shawbridge
and decided to venture on to the palying surface
for a final photograph with the trophy. After
formalities were over, Steve McDonald, Lee Cryer
and Neil Reynolds decided to re-enact the third
and Championship-clinching goal one last time -
no ball needed!
McDonald still managed to dummy a couple of non-existent
opponents and Cryer's back heel was once again
accurate. Reynolds' finish was just as impressive,
as was his celebration as he once more ripped off
his shirt to celebrate - a classic memory for me.
The club have made great great strides this
season and regardless of how many teams are
promoted into the UniBond League now, there will
only be one going up as champions.
So for one more time - well done Clitheroe FC,
league champions.
For photos from the day
click here
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