At halftime a heavy drubbing seemed very likely but an astonishing second half performance rescued a point for Clitheroe and they could even have won it right at the very end.

Once again Clitheroe started the game brightly but couldn’t make the early domination count. In the 3rd minute Domaine Rouse laid the ball off for Alex Henderson to fire in a blistering shot along the 3G surface but it was saved comfortably by the Chasetown keeper. In the 8th minute a great passing move down the left wing saw Ross Dent released into the box to fire in a low cross and a stretching Sefton Gonzales was inches away from connecting in front of goal. Just a minute later and Alex Henderson had another goal bound effort saved.

Chasetown took the lead in the 11th minute with their first real chance of the game. Their striker dummied past a couple of tackles along the 18 yard line before passing the ball to be fired home inside the post. The home side then enjoyed a good spell of pressure and in the 25th minute a fierce shot from the angle of the penalty area was pushed out for a corner by Danny Taberner. They doubled their lead just a minute later when heading home a cross from the left.

Clitheroe looked for a way back into the game and on the half hour mark a Lee Pugh cross from the left found Ross Dent and he glanced the ball goalwards only for it to be deflected for a corner. Domaine Rouse fired an effort wide before Chasetown scored a third goal in the 33rd minute. A long kick from their keeper was smartly controlled on the left wing followed by some good control around the edge of the box before the ball was laid off and a thunderous shot sailed past Danny Taberner. Clitheroe finished the half with a flurry of chances, the best falling to Ross Dent who ran on to a Danny Wilkins flick. He was able to poke it past the keeper but without any pace and it was safely cleared for a corner.

At half time Cam Lancaster and Ross Dent made way for Darren Holden and Veron Parny. What followed was an astonishing 45 minutes of football. More intensity, more closing down, more communication, more threat all over the park.

In the 49th minute Clitheroe pulled a goal back when another of Lee Pugh’s long throws was headed clear but knocked back in by Darren Holden and Sefton Gonzales headed home from close range. A minute later they were inches away from a second when Veron’s low cross just evaded Domaine Rouse at the far post. Soon after that another Lee Pugh long throw was headed on and a close range angled effort by Billy Priestley was pushed out for another corner. The relentless pressure brought a second goal after 56 minutes, a melee on the edge of the Chasetown penalty area saw the ball rolled across for Jacob Hanson to collect and stroke home from 10 yards. The same played had an almost identical chance 5 minutes later but this time the home keeper saved it and the ball went out for a corner.

In the 64th minute a strong, mazy dribble down the middle by Domain Rouse saw him fouled as he broke through on goal but covering defenders meant it was only a yellow card for the home player. Richie Baker lined up the free kick and from fully 30 yards he forced the keeper into a fine lunging save to palm the shot onto post before it was cleared by the defence. Chasetown then fired a long range effort well over the bar before Clitheroe resumed their assault. In the 70th minute a great run by Alex Henderson saw his low drive flash past the post. A loose pass in the Clitheroe defence then saw the home striker in on goal but his tame shot was easily saved by Danny Taberner. In the 77th minute substitute Veron has a great run and shot which was saved by the keeper for a corner. Lee Pugh corner curled it in, it was headed out by the defence and then back in by Veron and Billy Priestley stabbed an effort onto the bar and over.
Clitheroe equalised in the 84th minute when a superb through ball by Domaine Rouse released Veron on another run into the box and this time he finished calmly, slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper. The pursuit for goals continued and yet another Lee Pugh long throw found its way all the way to the far post and Domaine Rouse just failed to connect with his acrobatic overhead attempt. A minute later and Veron had another attempt on goal, stroking the ball past the keeper only for it to be cleared for a corner. A bit of confusion in the Clitheroe defence led to a Chasetown corner but they failed to trouble the Clitheroe defence. Clitheroe had a golden opportunity to steal all 3 points in the 90th minute when man of the match Domaine Rouse found himself 10 yards from goal, running onto a loose ball with just the keeper to beat. He struck the ball firmly but only found the gloves of the keeper who instinctively palmed it over the bar. There was still time for him to have another chance when a corner found him at the back post but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it flew over the bar. Chasetown had their own last gasp chance for the winner but a weak header went harmlessly past the post.

Chasetown looked comfortable with their 3-0 halftime lead and must have been thinking they’d easily score at least another 3 after the break. This was a terrific second half performance, the best 45 minutes I’ve seen from Clitheroe for a long time.

Team: Danny Taberner, Jacob Hanson, Lee Pugh, Richard Baker, Cameron Lancaster (Darren Holden), Billy Priestley, Domaine Rouse, Alex Henderson, Sefton Gonzales, Ross Dent © (Veron Parny), Danny Wilkins. Subs – Veron Parny, Darren Holden. Not used – Mark Howarth, Owen Devonport.