A SUNNY day a Shawbridge brought light to a 4th place Seadogs, fresh from their 11-1 domination over local rival and team one tier above them Thornaby Town. With the Blue’s renewed following a 6-4 win over Kendal last week, both teams were going into this one confident on three points.

The Seadogs kicked off, and immediately took control, displaying the same passing, control and movement as they did in the reverse fixture. The visitors in red were aggrieved to be denied a 6th minute penalty as Blues centre back Laquan Esdaille handle the ball in his own box, however referee Chris Isherwood was unmoved.

The following four minutes were feisty, culminating in Jay Hart leaving receiving heavy momentum filled tackle from Scarborough centre back Steven Ridley, hobbling off with what is now a suspected broken toe the Blue’s number ten was replaced with James Walker.

From that moment onwards the Shawbridge side looked liked a team who’d just lost an attacker, little magic was performed in front of goal and a cold Scarborough keeper Joseph Cracknell had little to do.

It was long wait to the 43rd minute until the 327 strong Shawbridge crowd had something to remember, Mathew Plummer control and distributing well into the path or moving Alex Metcalfe dispatching through the legs of Peter Collinge. The visitors went in at half time as they did the in previous fixture, leading after 45.

STAT: That was Clitheroe’s 24th goal conceded at Shawbridge this season.

Before the second half began Simon Garner decided youth player Ryan Cattermole deserved a place, Ross Dent making way for the midfielder. It took Cattermole only seven minutes before making a threat as his shot teed off by Sefton Gonzales flew just over Cracknell’s goal.

But it was in the 62nd minute that the Blue’s engineered their finest chance of an equaliser, Zac Dale drilling the ball across Scarborough’s six yard box, Gonzales was inches away before Paul Robson jumped in to defend his side’s lead.

From then on it seemed the visiting Seadogs took control, The Blues failed to generate any meaningful moments as Esdaille cleared from the line after Metcalfe rounded Collinge. Simon Garner replaced David Lynch in the 76th minute, he too clearing off the line from Plummer’s shot 6 minutes later.

Perhaps with on eye on Tuesday’s semi-final The Blue’s gave a far from flair filled performance, a polar opposite to the ten goal thriller seen at Shawbridge seven days ago. Whilst Scarborough gave a performance many expected them to, the promotion hopefuls displayed why they are just that, a valuable three points in their push for Evo-Stik Premier Division football.

The result leaves Clitheroe were they began the day, 13th place on 41 points, the Blues now 6 points adrift of 10th place Warrington and only a point separating them from 15th position Kendal Town. Whilst the visiting Seadogs remain in 4th place but rise to 58 points, seven behind new Evo-Stik First Division North Leaders Salford City.

The Teams:

Clitheroe:

Peter Collinge, Richard Burns, Seydou Bamba, Laquan Esdaille, Danny Brady, Ross Dent (Cattermole 45), Zac Dale, David Lynch © (Garner 76), Sefton Gonzales, Jason Hart (Walker 10), Louis Mayers

SUBS: James Walker, Roberto Bonaminio, Ryan Cattermole, Simon Garner, Alex Palffy

Scarborough:

Jospeh Cracknell, Matthew Plummer, Steven Ridley, Ben Middleton, Daniel Wilkinson, Paul Robson ©, Cameron Murray (Bennett 83), James Beadle, Thomas Corner, Peter Davidson, Alex Metcalfe

SUBS: Ryan Blott, James Bennett, Gary Bradshaw, Dean Lisles, Rory Skelton

Post match interviews to follow on the website.