Clitheroe 3 - 2 Scarborough Athletic

Integro League Cup - 1/4 final

After a pulsating cup tie, Clitheroe stepped into more unknown territory as they entered the semi final draw for the league cup. In a tie full of goals and incident, this certainly beat sterile European football on the box.

Simon Haworth tweaked the team, but his full squad was on show. Chances came at both ends throughout the game, and Kurt Willoughby was first to show in the first minute when he placed his header just over the bar after a cross from the right. He then turned provider as he lofted in a cross from the left only for the impressive Brad Carroll to under power his header at the keeper.

Scarborough were not overawed and took the lead on 19 minutes after Chris Thompson came to punch, but as the edge of the box rapidly came towards him, he throttled back and saw his eventual punch lofted back over his head.

The Blues came right back, with Charlie Russell dribbling the length of the pitch minutes later, only to be foiled in the box. Louis Myers was dropped on the edge of the box and Willoughby drew a good low save from the keeper with his free kick.

One minute later, a long Carroll throw saw Myers free and his unchallenged header brought the scores level. Luke Wall then got in on the action with two good half chances before the visitors advanced down the right, crossed the ball for the centre forward to score a cracking goal. Back came the Blues and after a Clitheroe corner had been scruffily cleared, Ryan Ellison dinked the ball over the entire defence in to the goal.

The second half lived up to the first 45 minutes and with only one minute gone, Scarborough hared down the left and flashed a drive across the goalmouth

On 53 minutes, Thompson kept the scores level with a superb finger tip save from a central free kick, which he only saw late.

Clitheroe upped the tempo and on 70 minutes, after a cross from the right had been partially cleared to the edge of the box, Myers fashioned a great goal from a wholly unlikely angle as he drove the ball in through a forest of legs. The visitors had further half chances, but the home side prevailed.

With two semi finals and a play off push to look forward to, the home fans have more than had their money's worth already this season, and the fuse has only just been lit.

Team : Chris Thompson, Ryan Ellison, Gareth Roberts, Jacob Davies, Danny Brady (c) (Robbie Bromley), Charlie Russell (Ian Rowlands), Chris Churchman, Brad Carroll, Kurt Willoughby, Louis Myers, Luke Wall (Dimitri Tuanzebe).

Subs - Robbie Bromley, Dimitri Tuanzebe, Ian Rowlands.
Not used - Ryan Cattermole, Joe Mitchell.