Clitheroe 2 Prescot Cables 2
Clitheroe surrendered a two-goal lead in a pulsating game and Prescot will be cursing their luck in not being able to take three points after a great second half display and in finding Clitheroe keeper, Chris Thompson, in imperious form.
The first half was comfortably in favour of the home side, albeit Prescot set their stall out early doors to attack. On two minutes, Billy Priestley headed narrowly wide from a near post corner and from another Clitheroe corner, a Prescot defender sent his clearing header perilously close to goal. Reece Webb-Foster leading the line was also in the thick of the action and he had a great volley smartly saved. On 18 minutes, a great cross from debutant John McGrath was headed home by centre back Cameron Lancaster from close range. Almost instantly, Thompson was called upon to make a sharp save at the other end. Four minutes later, Richard Baker put through a superb, blind pass to Webb-Foster who dinked it over the keeper to double the lead. One minute later Prescot hit the bar after good approach play and shortly afterwards hit the bar again from a huge deflection.
The second half saw wave after wave of Prescot attacks. With five minutes gone, Thompson made a superb save at feet, before making a fine second save only to see the third shot by James Foley pierce a forest of legs. Minutes later Thompson was again saving at feet and even though Clitheroe’s Danny Wilkins had a piledriver well saved, it was no real surprise when after pressure on the left a pinpoint cross saw Tom Dean thump a header home unchallenged from five yards out. Still Prescot laid siege to the goal, forcing last ditch clearances, but as the clock ticked down it was Clitheroe who almost nicked the points as Priestley volleyed over as he tussled in the box.
Team : Chris Thompson, Jack Burrows, Darren Holden, Richard Baker, Cameron Lancaster, Billy Priestley, Danny Wilkins, Ross Dent (c), Reece Webb-Foster (Sidi Sanogo Fofana), Callum Harris (Sefton Gonzales), John McGrath (Jamie Edwards). Subs - Sefton Gonzales, Jamie Edwards, Sidi Sanogo Fofana. Not used - Sam Lloyd, Jamie Nicholson.