Lancaster City 0 - 0 Clitheroe

Clitheroe kept the side which had ended the game at Trafford and ground out a fully deserved draw against top of the table Lancaster in dismal conditions.

The Blues had to be on their mettle from the word go, with Lancaster having quality and attacking options across the pitch, but their decision to leave only key striker Connerton up front on his own, ultimately backfired.

Chris Thompson was easily the busier of the two keepers and on 8 minutes he had to be alive to danger as he saved a firm header from a corner, by smothering the ball against the post. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. On 18 minutes, Lancaster hit the bar from a deep cross and again Thompson pounced on to the rebound, before danger could threaten.

Clitheroe were playing deeper than in previous games, but still had glimpses of attacking intent from their front three. On 35 minutes, a superb piece of interplay between Brad Carroll and Alex Newby as they raced down the pitch, saw Carroll foiled at the end.

The second half was more even, but still Lancaster pressed hard. The home side had the first of two confident, but misplaced, penalty shouts early in the second half, and on 52 minutes Thompson made a point blank save from a header from a corner. On 77 minutes, Joe Mitchell made an uncharacteristically undercooked back pass, but Thompson was alive to the danger.

George West came on as substitute and added an extra dimension to play, and Robbie Bromley had a firm header on target after 83 minutes. As the clock ticked down, Lancaster thought they had taken the three points as they had the ball in the net from a deep cross, but it was ruled out for offside.

Clitheroe’s new look defence held sway throughout the evening, and both Ryan Cattermole and Ryan Ellison stood out, but with Thompson again the clear Clitheroe MoM.

Team: Thompson, Bromley, Cattermole, Ellison, Benjamin, Russell, Mitchell, Carroll, Willoughby, Newby, Tuanzebe.
Subs (used): Churchman, West, Tserpes
Subs (unused): Williams