Jones rolls back the years

Lancaster City 1 Clitheroe 1

A draw was a fair result in this well contested game, although both teams could legitimately point to long periods of play, when either could have put the game beyond doubt.

Debutant keeper, Josh Ollerenshaw on loan from Fleetwood, was much the busier of the two keepers in the first half. Apart from a rare burst upfield by Bakkor on 8 minutes, which saw his cross elude both the keeper and any Clitheroe striker, the first 30 minutes were all Lancaster. Ollerenshaw saved well with his feet after 9 minutes and saved a piledriver minutes later, before a floated cross by the home side almost saw a wonder goal from an overhead kick. Clitheroe’s Andy Griffiths saw a good shot on the run saved after 28 minutes, before the play swung instantly round and a free kick was awarded to the home side just inside the Clitheroe half. An inswinging free kick resulted in a powerful header which saw Ollerenshaw slightly off his line as the ball looped over him. Clitheroe did not sit back and had a couple of chances of their own from melees in the box, but they had to change personnel when Cartwright limped off, with Wysocki moving to centre back and Jason Jones replacing him in centre midfield. However, the half ended with Lancaster on top and another good save by Ollerenshaw.

Half time saw new signing Anthony Harkness from Darwen go to left back, Bellew push forward and Dean operate up front with Bakkor. Slowly but surely, Clitheroe took the game by the scruff of the neck. Byrom and increasingly Jones were exerting real pressure in the middle of the park and freeing the wingers to make clear cut chances. On 58 Minutes, Bakkor slalomed past 4 players only to see his fierce shot well saved. More chances came his way and on 75 minutes Bakkor was hauled down in the box during a similarly mazy run and the Lancaster defender was dismissed. Bakkor lashed the penalty home. The last ten minutes were all Clitheroe. Dean had two great chances, one which he blasted over and the other when his swivel shot was well saved by the excellent Lancaster keeper. The home team were certainly the happier when the whistle went. My MoM goes to Jason Jones both for his bite in the middle of the park and his vision in repeatedly unlocking the home defence.

Team: Josh Ollerenshaw, Keith Wedge (c), Warren Bellew, Will James, Ben Cartwright, George Wysocki, Andy Griffiths, Scott Byrom, Scott Bakkor, Danny Smith, Lloyd Dean Subs Ross Dent, Jason Jones, Anthony Harkness, Charlie Collinge, Ryan Parr