Padiham 2 Clitheroe 5
Attendance 460
Clitheroe deservedly went through to the next round of the FA Cup having dominated possession for long stretches of the game but were made to work for the victory by a determined Padiham side. Clitheroe started the game brightly and never let their foot off the gas. On five minutes, the excellent John McGrath combined with Jacob Hanson down the right but could not get in the telling pass on this occasion, although this would be a key outlet all game. Sefton Gonzales stung the keeper’s hands on 10 minutes and the home defence looked at sixes and sevens. Hanson was dropped on the short side of the penalty area, but McGrath sent the resultant free kick over the bar. On 24 minutes, Lee Pugh whipped in a great cross which narrowly eluded Gonzales. Minutes later Gonzales turned provider as he robbed a defender and set Domaine Rouse free, whose shot forced a full length save. By now, Padiham had massed ranks in their half but it was almost inevitable on 39 minutes that a huge free kick from the Padiham half was not dealt with by the Clitheroe defence, and one bounce later, the home centre forward had neatly steered the ball past Hakan Burton. Clitheroe took the setback in their stride and on 45 minutes, a pinpoint driven cross by Ross Dent was headed home by Gonzales. There was even time still for Gonzales to return the favour as his flicked header found Dent on the edge of the box, but his fierce shot went wide. The second half followed a similar pattern, albeit the home side found more joy going up the slope. On 57 minutes a deep McGrath cross saw Rouse hanging in the air as he powered a great header home. The lead lasted barely five minutes as a clumsy Pugh challenge saw a penalty awarded, which was smartly converted. Hearts were in Clitheroe mouths minutes later when another huge Padiham penalty shout was turned down and from then Clitheroe turned up the heat. On 75 minutes, Hanson laid a short pass to McGrath on the short side of the box and his strong shot arrowed into the goal. On 84 minutes, Gonzales held off a clutch of players on the edge of the box before he headed the loose ball to McGrath in the box and he strolled it home. Finally, as the clock ticked down, Pugh threaded a delightful pass through the eye of the Padiham defence and McGrath was there to see the ball home and to seal his 15 minute hat trick.

Team : Hakan Burton, Jacob Hanson, Lee Pugh, Richard Baker, Billy Priestley (Cameron Lancaster), Scott Sephton, John McGrath, Alex Henderson, Sefton Gonzales, Ross Dent (Danny Wilkins), Domaine Rouse (Reece Webb-Foster). Subs - Cameron Lancaster, Danny Wilkins, Reece Webb-Foster. Not used - Ethan Kershaw, Veron Parny, Darren Holden