Team changes from the defeat at Farsley saw Seydou Bamba replace James Walker and Joey Mullen come in for Richard Burns. New signing goalkeeper Callum Jacovlevs was on the bench.

The match started at a frantic pace with both teams making inroads to the opposition halves. The visitors were looking especially dangerous, attacking with pace down the flanks.

Best chance early on went to Spennymoor on 16 minutes when Liam Henderson was given a good chance to score, but his shot went over the bar.

On 22 minutes, saw the Blues first chance with Ross Dent's effort deflected away for a corner. Zac Dale took the corner and Laquan Esdaille headed just over.

Spennymoor had the ball in the net on 29 minutes after Henderson converted the loose ball after Alex Palffy saved a long range free kick. However the Moors top scorer was judged to be in an offside position.

A free kick on 32 minutes was floated into the box by David Lynch and Louis Mayers came close when his header went just wide.

The visitors pressure eventually told and they took the lead on 35 minutes, after a quick breakaway led to Nathan Fisher's low cross being finished off by Andrew Stephenson.

Spennymoor were 2-0 up on 40 minutes when Fisher ran on to a through ball and cooly lobbed over Palffy.

The Blues were forced into making half time substitutions, with Palffy taking a knock and Danny Brady still feeling the after effects of his injury at Farsley. Callum Jacovlevs made his debut in goal, Ryan Cattermole came on to play at left back and Seydou Bamba moved to centre half. Richard Burns also came on to replace Zac Dale.

Spennymoor almost scored a third goal in the first minute of the second half, with Stephenson getting a touch to a low cross from the right. Thankfully for the Blues the ball crept past the post for a goal kick.

Chances were few and far between in the second half with the Blues reduced to a couple of half chances for Sefton Gonzales and Ross Dent, whose shot on 59 minutes was blocked by a defender.

Spennymoor substitute Gavin Cogdon had a good opportunity on 69 minutes when he broke clear and placed the ball past Jacovlevs, but Cattermole was there to clear off the line.

With just a few minutes remaining, Louis Mayers was involved in an incident with a Spennymoor defender and received a red card as a result.

A better second half defensively by the Blues, but the damage was done late in the first half. Spennymoor now look certainties for the play-offs and could still challenge for the title if they win their games in hand.

Clitheroe: Alex Palffy (Callum Jacovlevs 46), Danny Morton, Seydou Bamba, Laquan Esdaille, Danny Brady (Ryan Cattermole 46), Ross Dent, Joey Mullen, David Lynch, Sefton Gonzales, Louis Mayers, Zac Dale (Richard Burns 46). Subs not used, James Walker & Jason Hart.

Spennymoor: Adam McHugh, Kallum Griffiths, Paul Johnson, Robert Briggs, Joe Tait, Steven Capper, Andrew Stephenson (Lewis Dodds82), Shane Henry, Liam Henderson, Nathan Fisher (Gavin Cogdon 64) , Anthony Peacock (Michael Roberts 86). Subs not used, Chris Mason & John McReady.

Attendance: 204

Referee: A.Bennett