With injuries starting to take its toll on the squad, Alex Palffy, Danny Brady & James Walker were out from the squad from the Spennymoor game. Seydou Bamba moved to centre half with Ryan Cattermole starting at left back.

An early chance for Sefton Gonzales on 2 minutes, saw the first of many crucial saves from Ossett Town’s keeper Brad Dixon throughout the afternoon.

It was Ossett Town who got the early breakthrough in the 8th minute. Callum Jakovlevs did well to save the initial first shot, but the ball ricocheted forwards to Steven Jeff who couldn’t miss from close range.

The Blues were forced to make a substitution on 24 minutes when Richard Burns limped off injured, to be replaced by Joey Mullen.
Mullen was in the action on 32 minutes when he tried a chip shot from the edge of the box, which forced Dixon to push away for a corner.

The Blues started to take a foothold in the game towards the end of the first half. Jason Hart shot over the bar on 34 minutes before Dixon again saved a certain goal on 39 minutes. From Hart’s corner, Laquan Esdaille headed on for Gonzales to head straight at Dixon who made a brilliant save to keep out of the net.

Half time 0-2.

On 53 minutes, a similar move to the earlier corner with Esdaille heading on for Gonzales, this time Sefton’s header went just over.
Zac Dale replaced Jason Hart on 54 minutes.

The Blues were well on top now and continued to push forward at every opportunity. Mullen had another good effort which went close, before Gonzales had the ball in the net on 66 minutes but the assistants flag had gone up for offside.

Another injury blow for the Blues on 69 minutes saw Seydou Bamba limp off, to be replaced by Simon Garner.

Dixon made two more crucial saves in the 72nd minute, first from Ross Dent and then from the resulting corner when Garner’s in-swinger looked to be going in, the Ossett keeper again got a crucial hand to it to push over the top.

With the Blues pushing everyone forward, Ossett did catch them on the break on 81 minutes when Calum Hepworth shot over.

On 82 minutes a Gonzales back header was again pushed away by Dixon and from the corner, Esdaille’s looping header came back off the top of the bar.

Another chance for the Blues on 85 minutes when a good move between Louis Mayers and Dent saw David Lynch’s shot saved once again by Dixon.

It looked like that Dixon was not going to be beaten, but luck ran out on Ossett on 86 minutes. Dixon blocked Mayers shot with his leg only for it to land straight at Zac Dale’s feet and he finished it off from close range.

Within a couple of minutes, the Blues had levelled the scores when Dale hit a perfect ball across the goal for Joey Mullen to run in and hit a first time shot in to net.

Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled and the momentum was now very much in the Blues favour. With three extra minutes played the ball was launched in to the box and in the melee which occurred, Ross Dent was the man on the spot to smash home the winning goal as Shawbridge erupted with delirious celebrations.

An extraordinary finish and great credit must go to the Blues for keeping going right to the death.

Clitheroe: Callum Jakovlevs, Danny Morton, Ryan Cattermole, Laquan Esdaille, Seydou Bamba (Simon Garner 69), Ross Dent, Richard Burns (Joey Mullen 24), David Lynch, Sefton Gonzales, Jason Hart (Zac Dale 54), Louis Mayers. Subs not used, Robbie Bromley & Callum Carter.

Ossett Town: Brad Dixon, Darol Lucas, Dave Merris, Ross Armstrong, Joe Cheeseman, Nick Wood, Calum Hepworth, Sam Akeroyd (Sam Pashley 57), Nathan Curtis (Rowan Binns 81), Josh Whiteley, Steven Jeff. Subs not used, Karl Exton, Conor Grayson & Chris Backhouse.

Attendance 241

Referee: M.Denton