Runcorn Linnets 1 Clitheroe 2
Star Man – Sefton Gonzales (Clitheroe)
Clitheroe put their recent poor run of form behind them and dominated this fixture against play off rivals Runcorn with an authoritative display.
On a true but high bouncing pitch, control was at a premium and for the first 20 minutes both sides struggled to string meaningful attacks together. However, it was the visitors who came into their own on the half hour mark. On 28 minutes, Reece Webb-Foster received a short pass on the edge of the box and turned and shot wide. Minutes later, Webb-Foster turned provider and slipped through danger man Sefton Gonzales, only for his shot to be smothered at his feet. Webb-Foster then had his cross shot well saved and Clitheroe left back Darren Holden forced a great save at the near post as Clitheroe turned up the pressure. It was no huge surprise one minute later when Gonzales held off two players and took the ball to the bye line and as he advanced on goal, he set up Webb-Foster to power the ball home unchallenged. Still Runcorn offered little, and what they did was swept up by the defensive pairing of Cameron Lancaster and Accrington Stanley warhorse Andy Procter who did not put a foot wrong all day.In the second half, Runcorn worked a good early chance but ballooned a shot over, but in truth it was a mirror image of the first half. For a while Clitheroe invited the home side to attack but then decided that attack was the best form of defence. On 73 minutes, Webb-Foster broke up play in his own half and Gonzales wriggled past his markers before laying a pinpoint cross to substitute Abimbola Obasoto, who neatly steered the ball home. The expected Runcorn onslaught never came and even though Sam Heathcote scored a scruffy near post goal in a crowded box with seconds to go, the result was not in doubt and Clitheroe cruised to an excellent victory.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jacob Hanson, Darren Holden, Richard Baker, Cameron Lancaster, Andrew Procter, John McGrath (Abimbola Obasoto), Ross Dent (c), Sefton Gonzales, Danny Wilkins (Sidi Sanogo Fofana), Reece Webb-Foster (Callum Harris). Subs - Abimbola Obasoto, Callum Harris, Sidi Sanogo Fofana. Not used - Billy Priestley, Jamie Edwards.