Despite a battling spirited display Clitheroe came away from Curzon Ashton pointless falling to a solitary goal in the last minute of normal time. Curzon Ashton shaded the first half putting the better passing moves together but either missed the target or found Richie Mottram in good form. At the other end Mark Threlfall struggled to get in the game so 0-0 at half time.

Second half Mark Threlfall withdrawn and the lively Danny Smith forced off with injury replaced by Mason Ryan and the returning Danny Bell who lifted the side with pacy runs down the right flank and put some dangerous crosses in.

Just when a point looked in the bag a weak defensive header, under pressure, sat up invitingly on the edge of the box and the onrushing CA player Jordan Wrights mashed it low to the bottom right corner giving Richie Mottram no chance in the very last minute.

In the fourth minute of injury time Danny Bell pumped a teasing cross into the box which Simon Nangle missed by inches with a diving header, seconds later Rob Bodie of all people was upended in the Curzon Ashton box, Nangle fired the spot kick low and hard to the bottom left corner but ex Clitheroe keeper, Hakan Burton, managed to save the penalty and seal the win.

Man of the Match, Will James, with a defensive master class way beyond his years. In truth Clitheroe did not create enough in the final third to deserve a share of the spoils.

Report by Simon Scott