Clitheroe 4 - 0 Ramsbottom United

All highlights can be seen here. All credit to Ramsbottom United and the RammyCam.

By Chris Musson

In front of a large Bank Holiday crowd, Clitheroe swept aside their near neighbours with a scintillating display of football.

From the outset, the home team were on their game. Within five minutes, a whipped in corner from Jimmy Walker saw a Dimitri Tuanzebe header flash over the bar. However, the home crowd did not have to wait long for the first goal.

After 8 minutes, Clitheroe won a free kick just outside the United box. With everyone expecting a regulation free kick, Alex Newby caught the opposition flat footed by deftly dinking the ball to Walker, who was then scythed down in the box. Brad Carroll converted the resulting penalty.

On 19 minutes, the visitors had one of their rare attacks, as the dangerous Hart drifted across the pitch before cutting back on to his left foot and hammering a pile driver towards goal, which was expertly tipped over by the otherwise underemployed Chris Thompson. The resultant corner saw a diving header flash wide.

On 23 minutes, 18 year old Brad Knox, on his debut, had a good shot, but that was simply a taster for what was to come on 33 minutes, when he leathered the ball home from 30 yards. If that wasn’t enough, on 38 minutes a contender for goal of the season as the Blues advanced down the ground with superb short passing, with Walker and Kurt Willoughby setting Newby free, who finished with aplomb.

The second half was even more of a procession. Within the first ten minutes, Walker had a good free kick saved, Willoughby was only just foiled as a he sprang the offside trap, Tuanzebe had a run and shot saved, whilst Newby was only foiled by a great save after being released by Carrol.

Things got even worse for the visitors when they had a player sent off for grabbing Tuanzebe round the throat.

On 63 minutes, Hart almost pulled one back when Thompson pulled off a stupendous save to deny the former Blue. When the ball was then sent forward, Tuanzebe shrugged off his defender, advanced on goal and finished expertly Further chances fell to Willoughby and Tuanzebe, Knox had another pile driver just off target and Walker had a shot cleared off the line in the final minute.

In truth, it could have been a cricket score. On a fantastic day for Clitheroe, the sun shone, but not as brightly as their young team.

Clitheroe XI
1. Thompson 2. Knox 3. Walker 4. Roberts 5. Brady (C) 6. Smith 7. Mitchell 8. Carroll 9. Willoughby 10. Newby 11. Tuanzebe

Subs
Cham, Welsby, Hession, Stirzaker, Cattermole