Trafford 2 Clitheroe 1

Clitheroe put in an improved performance compared to previous weeks but could not prevent a third successive loss, just as the season comes to its climax.

With familiar faces returning and new signing Callum Harris making his full debut, there was a reassuring feel to the side. That warm glow almost only lasted one minute as a quick burst down the Trafford right and a glancing header from a cross saw the ball nestling in the Clitheroe net, only for offside to be given. Clitheroe’s response was measured and they dominated possession for most of the half, with Darren Holden and Abimbola Obasoto getting some joy down the left flank. On 10 minutes, Sefton Gonzales saw his header skim over the bar from a Danny Wilkins cross, before Thompson was almost instantly called into action from a Trafford break.
Against the run of play, Clitheroe fell behind on 21 minutes, when a deep cross from the right eluded a forest of players and Clitheroe full back Jack Burrows found himself unable to stop the ball deflecting in off him. Parity was restored minutes later when a Jamie Nicholson corner was volleyed in from close range by Cameron Lancaster and this seemed to settle the Blues down. On 35 minutes, Holden slipped Obasoto through and as he ran towards goal along the bye line, Gonzales just could not get the short pass out from under his feet. On 40 minutes, a fine Richie Baker free kick was sent in and Lancaster saw his powerful glancing header hit the crossbar. Finally, as half time approached, in a melee in the Trafford box both Gonzales and Obasoto were left bemused as to how they failed to turn the ball in from 2 yards.
Clitheroe started the second half brightly and after Harris had been chopped down on the edge of the Trafford box after 52 minutes, his free kick had the keeper well beaten as it slammed into the crossbar. Six minutes later in a rare attack, Thompson had to pull off a great save after Lancaster had been beaten, and the follow up shot hit the post before it was bundled away. Still Clitheroe dominated possession, but with numbers committed forward, it was no huge surprise when on 75 minutes, a Trafford right wing break saw a short pass to the edge of the box, with the forward swapping feet and burying the ball beyond Thompson. Clitheroe turned up the temperature, with Gonzales going close with a header and Billy Priestley had a header cleared off the line after two further Blue chances. Gonzales screamed another shot over, but Trafford absorbed the pressure and condemned Clitheroe to another defeat.

Team: Chris Thompson, Jack Burrows (Reece Webb-Foster), Darren Holden (Ross Dent), Richard Baker (c), Cameron Lancaster, Billy Priestley, Jamie Nicholson (Jason Akiotu), Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales, Callum Harris, Abimbola Obasoto. Subs - Reece Webb-Foster, Jason Akiotu, Ross Dent. Not used - Sidi Sanogo Fofana, Charlie Russell.