Clitheroe 1 Macclesfield 1

Attendance 769

In an outstanding encounter, Clitheroe went toe to toe with the league leaders Macclesfield in a stunning encounter.

With Clitheroe tweaking their formation, they knew they would have to deal with an early onslaught from their virtually full time opponents. Corners came at both ends in the first ten minutes and Macclesfield were relentless. Two corners in quick succession after 21 minutes for the visitors, led quickly to player manager Neil Danns dropped on the edge of the Blues box. Dangerman James Berry stepped up and as the crowd held its collective breath, the ball soared over the bar and the chance had gone.

On 29 minutes, Clitheroe had a searching free kick and as the ball came out to Darren Holden, his cross just failed to find the head of Sefton Gonzales. Minutes later the Macclesfield keeper fluffed a regulation punch and on 32 minutes a long Lee Pugh throw saw a Billy Priestley touch before Cameron Lancaster bundled the ball home to the joy of the majority of the crowd.

The visitors were stung into action and roared back with two instant chances. Priestley was called into action as a visiting forward jigged down the wing but it was Reece Webb-Foster minutes later who screamed a shot from distance narrowly over the bar. Finally, as the clock ticked down, the immense Gonzales hared down the left and laid the ball to Webb-Foster whose shot was deflected over.

There was no let up in the second half. A penalty shout by Macclesfield after one minute was followed on 47 minutes by a Lancaster shot, which hit the inside of the post and bounced out. By now chances were being traded at both ends. Holden was showing on the flanks but Chris Thompson was being called upon to make smart saves in the Clitheroe goal.

Macclesfield rang the changes and on 71 minutes missed a sitter as Danns put a scudding cross over the bar from six yards. Minutes later, the pressure told and substitute Alex Curran curled a low shot beyond Thompson. A theatrical collapse in the Clitheroe box was then rewarded with a yellow card.

On 82 minutes, Berry was dropped on the edge of the Clitheroe box and his free kick deflected to a Macclesfield player and with the ball looping towards goal, Thompson was impeded as the ball crept over the line. Still the tempo continued with Jack Burrows tirelessly overlapping down the right. On 90 minutes, Burrows was fouled deep in the Macclesfield half, and from the free kick, Gonzales had the home fans dancing as he converted, only to see the goal ruled out for offside.

When the final whistle went, both sets of players had left everything on the pitch. Undoubtedly, one of the best games you will ever see at this level.

Team:- Chris Thompson, Jack Burrows, Lee Pugh,  Richard Baker, Cameron Lancaster, Billy Priestley, Danny Wilkins, Ross Dent,  Sefton Gonzales, Reece Webb-Foster, Darren Holden, Subs. Jamie Edwards, Max Cane