City of Liverpool 2 Clitheroe 0

Clitheroe tamely surrendered their six match unbeaten run against a hard working CoL side with a disappointing performance. In a game with very few clear cut chances, Clitheroe had a purple patch at the end of the first half when they should at least have drawn level, but as it was the home team scored with their only two chances of the game.

On an even but high bouncing pitch, Clitheroe never really mastered the conditions and were often caught between going long or snatching at their passes. The Blue cause was not helped when Jacob Hanson limped off with a hamstring twinge on 10 minutes, but within a minute Sefton Gonzales had got round the keeper but could only square the ball across the face of goal. Sidi Sanogo Fofano then went close as he bent a shot round the keeper agonisingly wide of the post.

When the first goal came it was from a headed back pass by Jack Burrows, which was never going to reach Chris Thompson and the forward expertly lobbed Thompson from the edge of the box to finish well. This shook the Blues from their slumber and Ross Dent started to impose himself. On 33 minutes the Blues had three good successive chances, not least from a well saved shot from Reece Webb-Foster. On 40 minutes Dent had a diving header in the box flash wide before he was then flattened in the box in what looked a nailed on penalty. Shortly before half time, a superb run by Jamie Edwards saw him slip Darren Holden through and his thunderous shot was well saved. This was a good as it got for the visitors.

The second half was far more bitty and any chances which came to either side were not really worth a row of beans. The only passage of quality came when the home side applied some pressure in the 58th minute, which resulted in a corner. From the driven near post set piece, a flashing header left Chris Thompson with no chance. Dave Dempsey rang the changes but to no avail and whilst the yellow card count rose, the quality of the fare did not.

Results elsewhere meant that this stumble by the Blues was not terminal, but the Blues’ fans will be hoping that the next two away games see a return to the form which drove the Blues into the play off places.

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