Clitheroe came up short against a resilient Hanley side, well drilled by their player/manager ex-Premier League player Ryan Shotton, but they still had enough chances to have taken something from the game.

With both teams looking to get forward whenever possible, it was Clitheroe who dominated much of the first half. Matty Barlow’s fierce drive, which flashed across goal in the fourth minute, was a statement of intent, and it was followed up on 12 minutes by Sefton Gonzales who was put through on goal, but whose flick past the advancing keeper did not have the power to cause real problems. One minute later, a dangerous corner from Richie Baker dropped into the box forcing a defender to make a goal line clearance. Hanley’s first chance came on 20 minutes after miscommunication in the defence, but the panic soon passed. Ross Dent went close when he just failed to connect with a rebound from a Clitheroe free kick on 27 minutes, but thereafter, the challenges became more robust particularly from the home side. On 34 minutes, Darren Holden sent Gonzales free but Shotton showed all his experience to shepherd him out, before one minute later Jacob Hanson’s cross picked out Domaine Rouse but he could not get his shot off. Hanley then finished the half strongly, but there was still time for Barlow to scream a shot narrowly over the bar.

The second half was more disjointed, but Clitheroe should have taken the lead when a long throw from Lee Pugh saw Will Hall scoop the ball over the bar from close range. Both sides had chances before on 72 minutes there was a huge penalty shout from Clitheroe for handball after a Holden shot was manhandled, but the offence was in the blind spot for all three officials and nothing was given. Five minutes later, things got worse when a Hanley free kick virtually from a corner flag saw Hakan Burton only able to tip the ball into a crowd of players, with Shotton following up with a snap shot to take the lead. The lead was doubled five minutes later when Hanley took advantage of Clitheroe pressing forward and their substitute ran 40 yards before thumping the ball past Burton. As the clock ticked down, substitute Mark Howarth and Danny Wilkins both hit the woodwork, but in the end it remained a frustrating day for the Blues.

Team: Burton, Hanson, Holden, Baker, Pugh, Hall, Rouse, Wilkins, Gonzales, Dent, Barlow
Subs (used) McGrath, Parny, Howarth.
Subs (not used) Barlow (K), Lancaster