Clitheroe were facing into a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch and initially found it hard to get a grip of the game and to build attacks of their own. Witton played a neat short passing game and were first to show in the game with several half chances. Veron Parny and Jacob Hanson engineered chances of their own but it was the home side who took the lead on 13 minutes when neat passing on the edge of the box unlocked the Clitheroe defence and left the striker with an easy finish. Clitheroe continued on the back foot but Darren Holden was starting to assert himself with his trademark surges forward. Ross Dent went off injured on the half hour mark to be replaced by John McGrath, and quickly the Blues’ shape changed and chances started to come. Minutes after coming on, McGrath laid a great ball to Domaine Rouse, who in turn sent Sefton Gonzales free, only for his shot to whistle wide. On 36 minutes, a superb Holden cross was met by a diving McGrath header, although his touch was too light to send the ball goalward. Three minutes later, McGrath followed up with another diving header from a Richie Baker free kick, only for his effort to be smothered by the keeper. Witton were still in the box seat though and with minutes of the half to go, Hakan Burton tipped a shot on the post, with Lee Pugh hurling himself bodily to block the follow up shot.

The wind continued in the second half and the game was turned on its head. McGrath crashed a shot against the bar shortly after the restart and Danny Wilkins saw a cross just get too big on him and elude the waiting strikers. On 67 minutes, Hanson burst forward and his low cross was crying out for a touch. On 74 minutes, Hanson was dropped on the short side of the box and the resultant free kick resulted in a corner and the Blues turned up the pressure. Parity was restored on 76 minutes when Holden burst half the length of the pitch, exchanging passes as he went, and as he got into the box, a despairing defender hit the ball against the keeper, and from the rebound, Billy Priestley was on hand to stab the ball home. The Clitheroe pressure by now was being ratcheted up non stop, but still Witton were dangerous as they threw caution to the wind. On 89 minutes, a neat exchange between Gonzales and Rouse fed the ball to McGrath, who steadied himself and curled a superb 15 yard shot beyond the keeper. There was still time for Burton to parry a ball on to the post as the clock ticked down, but the Blues held firm to win a valuable three points.

Team: Burton, Hanson, Holden, Baker, Pugh, Priestley, Rouse, Dent, Gonzales, Wilkins, Parny.
Subs (used) McGrath, Barlow
Subs (not used) Lancaster, Sephton, Dorney