Clitheroe put in a stunning all-team performance against an excellent Prescot Cables side and nudged themselves into the play off spots in the process. Both sides played flowing football on the good surface and despite the intensity of the play, it was more than 20 minutes before the first serious foul. It really was end to end stuff.

On six minutes, the lively Prescot left winger skipped past two defenders and called on Danny Taberner to make the first of several outstanding saves. Minutes later, Jacob Hanson burst half the length of the pitch and his drive demanded a full length save as well. The Prescot centre forward was dangerous all night and on 14 minutes he bustled his way through the defence forcing another great Taberner save. At the other end of the pitch, John McGrath was looking a handful as he swapped wings and there was a real threat about the Clitheroe side. On 18 minutes, the visitors took the lead as a long Lee Pugh throw was headed home from 10 yards out by Billy Priestley. He had no time to rest on his laurels as minutes later he was heading clear off his own goal line and on 27 minutes he was fortunate to have his defensive partner Cam Lancaster sweeping up the pieces after a rare error let through the home side. Prescot pressure intensified but solid defending and the occasional body thrown at the ball kept the score as it was. As half time approached, Pugh went full length for a loose ball and caught his opposite number. The crowd bayed for a red card but a yellow was the correct verdict.

The second half could not hope to maintain that extreme pace but the contest remained fascinating, albeit with more tetchy tackles as players tired. Owen Devenport almost scored his first goal for the club after a short Pugh throw fooled everyone and his shot on the turn was saved smartly. Clear chances were at a premium, but the home pressure persisted, although the risk of a Clitheroe break to punish over confidence was ever present. On 85 minutes, substitute Mark Howarth received the ball on the edge of the box after a Pugh throw had been cleared, and his first time drive was deflected past the keeper. Prescot were stung into action and Taberner completed a great game by smothering the ball in a penalty box melee one minute later.

When the whistle went, it was job well done by the Blues but with an acknowledgement that Prescot will be in the upper reaches of the table come the end of the season.

Team: Taberner, Hanson, Pugh, Baker, Lancaster, Priestley, McGrath, Henderson, Gonzales, Wilkins, Devenport
Subs (used) Rouse, Webb-Foster, Howarth
Subs (not used) Dent, Parny