Bamber Bridge 1 - 4 Clitheroe FC

By Chris Musson

Second placed Brig had no answer to the fluent quality of Clitheroe's play and the final score could and possibly should have been much higher.

The away team started the brighter and on 4 minutes Tuanzebe and Williams harried the defence, with Tuanzebe poking a shot goalwards, only for a last gasp slice for a corner by a defender. From the corner, Brady powered the ball on to the post, before Williams stabbed it home.

The lead did not last long as under little pressure, Bromley and Thompson failed to deal with a loose ball, and in the mix up, a Brig player went to ground for a penalty, which was converted.

This was simply an interruption in the Blue tide, and on 17 minutes, Williams and Newby combined before Newby was denied by a last ditch tackle as he neared the bye line. On 24 minutes, Walker was fouled 20 yards out, before Newby drove a curling free kick just inside the near post, making it 2 - 1 to the Blues. In fairness, the rest of the half was even, with some of the better chances falling Brig's way.

The second half was an avalanche. On 50 minutes a great cross by Walker was headed agonisingly wide by the excellent Carroll. On 61 minutes, Brig had their only chance as a left foot cross was headed wide.

Two minutes later, Clitheroe extended their lead as Tuanzebe scrapped for he ball on the left, released Newby who advanced 30 yards as he tacked across the box before unleashing an unstoppable shot.

On 71 minutes, Newby slipped Carroll through, whose shot was just foiled. Young substitute Stavros Tsirpes who came on at half-time took the quality threshold even higher. Showing on both flanks, he caused even more problems for the static home defence. From a great Tsirpes cross, Carroll was dropped as he pulled the trigger, only for Newby to convert a fraction of a second after the penalty had been awarded. He was not to be denied and earned his hat trick from the spot.

On 82 minutes, Newby went for an outrageous curling left foot drive that only narrowly went over he bar. Tsirpes was causing mayhem on the flanks and almost scored himself when on 88 minutes he pointed to Newby where he wanted the ball, and when he received it, his shot was well saved.

Away performances do not get much better than this. The lads took a few knocks as things got feisty, but they have all week to recover before he tricky trip to Bridlington. They will go full of confidence and goals.