Clitheroe 0 Runcorn Linnets 1

Clitheroe can have few complaints about this third home league defeat of the season as Linnets stretched the home side all afternoon and could easily have scored more. By contrast, Clitheroe had few chances of note and certainly missed the ill Sefton Gonzales and suspended Ross Dent.

Virtually all the chances in the first half fell to Linnets and a combination of good goalkeeping by Chris Thompson and wayward shooting kept the score line goalless at half time. Thompson was called into action as early as the third minute as he parried away a sharp free kick, and minutes later Clitheroe were fortunate when Richie Baker inadvertently cushioned a ball in his own box allowing the Runcorn forward to blaze over.

Things did not improve when Darren Holden pulled a hamstring after 15 minutes and he was replaced by Billy Priestley. Linnets were exploiting the flanks well and Thompson had another fine save on 24 minutes as he flew to his right. It took until the 27th minute for the Blues to have a shot on goal, but Reece Webb-Foster’s effort was well underpowered. As the half ticked down, Webb-Foster engineered a better opening and a Callum Leigh drive took a deflection and finally tested the Linnets’ keeper.

In the second half, the visitors maintained their pressure and Linnets’ Ryan Brooke hit the apex of the upright on 56 minutes after good work in the box, before two minutes later Clitheroe Danny Wilkins was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge, with Brooke also getting his marching orders for a second yellow for getting involved in the subsequent melee.

The game teetered on the cusp of anarchy but settled into a more even affair with the players thinned out. Malick Diakite had a number of teasing runs on his debut, but on 73 minutes, a burst down the left by Linnets saw Jamie Rainford tuck home from close range and it was no more than the visitors deserved. Clitheroe rang the changes, bringing on Charlie Russell and Jamie Edwards, and looked fresher at the end.

However, despite increased Clitheroe pressure on the visitors ‘box, it was Linnets who should have doubled their lead in injury time as a two on one break, saw the ball laid to the side when a shot would have reaped dividends and the ball was bundled clear. In short, this was a game to forget for the home side.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jack Burrows, Darren Holden (Billy Priestley), Richard Baker (c), Cameron Lancaster, Lee Pugh, Max Cane, Danny Wilkins, Malick Diakite, Callum Leigh (Charlie Russell), Reece Webb-Foster (Jamie Edwards). Subs - Billy Priestley, Charlie Russell, Jamie Edwards. Not used - Waqas Azam, George Bristol.