Clitheroe 3 City of Liverpool 2

Clitheroe recorded their first victory in five games with a late winner, although the score line could have been much larger if it had not been for the home side’s uncanny ability to hit the woodwork.

Clitheroe could not have got off to a better start as after only three minutes, Malick Diakite danced down the right and took the ball to the bye line before his cross was fired home from short range by the returning Ross Dent. The home side were certainly in the box seat, although much of their early play was patchy, before Callum Leigh screamed a shot from distance against the bar on 28 minutes and Diakite intercepted a pass a minute later and was narrowly foiled by a good save. Almost instantly, Leigh got hold of a volley from distance and this hit the post before Max Cane went close and saw his shot turned for a corner.

It was not until the 35th minute that Chris Thompson had a save of note to make as he parried a cross away from danger, but it was only two minutes before the lead was doubled as Cameron Lancaster glanced in a header from a driven Lee Pugh free kick from the right. Minutes later, Pugh had a solid shout for a penalty, but as the half ticked down, Shawbridge was silenced as on a rare foray forward, a Liverpool striker arrowed a shot across the face of the goal. Thompson managed to touch the ball on to the post, but despite appeals for offside, the rebound was thumped home.

The second half saw the visitors looking sharper and the game started to open up. There was a four minute break for a disappointing altercation between Clitheroe fans and many Liverpool players, and once order had been restored, it was the visitors who derived most energy from the incident.

Shortly afterwards a free kick on the edge of the box was hit diagonally into the top corner of Thompson’s goal to bring the scores level. Leigh hit the post from distance for a third time, but the game was still very disjointed, with the Blues not able to sustain any pressure. Finally, in the last 10 minutes, things clicked for Clitheroe. Cane went down the left on 81 minutes and having cut inside saw his shot well saved.

Minutes later, substitute Reece Webb-Foster span on a sixpence and forced a fine save, but on 87 minutes he was not to be denied as he followed up an excellent double save by the Liverpool keeper to slam home from close range. The pressure continued and amongst the chances was another woodwork incident as Cane shot against the bar.

This was a valuable win but it will probably be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Team : Chris Thompson, Waqas Azam (Jack Burrows), Lee Pugh, Richard Baker (Andrew Procter), Cameron Lancaster, Billy Priestley, Max Cane, Callum Leigh, Sefton Gonzales, Ross Dent (c), Malick Diakite (Reece Webb-Foster). Subs - Jack Burrows, Andrew Procter, Reece Webb-Foster. Not used - Charlie Russell, George Bristol.