Clitheroe 2 Mossley 1

Play off rivals Clitheroe and Mossley fought themselves to a standstill in an epic encounter, but it was Clitheroe who nicked the points right at the death, to deny Mossley a deserved share of the spoils. Chances came at both ends in the first half, with Clitheroe’s Chris Thompson tipping over a piledriver being the pick of the bunch. Clitheroe debutant Sidi Sanogo Fofana had two chances whistle narrowly wide, but it Reece Webb-Foster who forced a mistimed tackle from a Mossley defender in the box to earn a penalty, which he dispatched himself with a thunderous finish.

In the second half, Clitheroe’s Max Cane had two great runs and shots saved by the Mossley keeper, but still the visitors came and exerted huge pressure on the Clitheroe defence. Finally, from a deep cross, Jack Grundy headed home over Thompson to draw level. Within minutes Sefton Gonzales was amazed that his close range shot was not deflected home, but it was Thompson who pulled off an astonishing save from point blank range which took the eye.

As the clock ticked down, a burst down the Mossley right saw another outrageous save by Thompson from close range, before Clitheroe full back Jacob Hanson was foiled at the other end from a great burst and from the resultant corner he glanced a header home to break Mossley hearts and to delight the huge home crowd.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jacob Hanson, Darren Holden, Richard Baker (c), Lee Pugh, Cameron Lancaster, Reece Webb-Foster, Sidi Sanogo Fofana, Sefton Gonzales, Danny Wilkins (Jamie Edwards), Max Cane (Jamie Nicholson). Subs - Jamie Edwards, Jamie Nicholson. Not used - Jack Burrows, Charlie Russell, George Bristol.