1874 Northwich 1 Clitheroe 2

Clitheroe travelled to Northwich knowing that a win was required to keep the chasing play off pack at bay, and left it late to take the points after a lacklustre first half display.

On a dusty, bobbly surface, Clitheroe found it hard to adjust their passing game to suit. Kicking down the slope, Clitheroe started the brighter with Sefton Gonzales testing the keeper with a header in the first minute, and Marc Pugh convincing the travelling fans that he had scored from his brother Lee’s trademark throw, but his shot went into the side netting. However, after the first quarter of an hour, the hosts started to put passes together. On 18 minutes they saw a back post volley whistle across the face of the Clitheroe goal. Another 1874 break swiftly followed but was blocked at the death. Minutes later, after a long Danny Wilkins run had foundered as the ball bobbled outrageously, the home side sprang the offside trap and again stabbed the ball across the goal. Clitheroe tried to use the slope to make chances but could not get any rhythm and it was no surprise when 1874 wriggled down their right flank and from a sharp cross, a home forward smartly volleyed home at the back post. A desperate block minutes later saved a second goal and as the half time whistle blew, Clitheroe knew they had a game on their hands.

Manager Dave Dempsey rang the changes and Clitheroe started to go through the gears. Marc Pugh was fouled on the edge of the box but could only drive the free kick over the bar. However, on 53 minutes, a deep Darren Holden cross was headed on by Gonzales, with Ross Dent burying the ball on the full in one sweeping movement. By now, the encounter was very even on the pitch and 1874 should have scored from a corner as the loose ball seemed destined for the net through a ruck of players. The home side were then foiled by a last ditch block, but with 10 minutes to go, the balance of play swung in the Blues’ favour. Wilkins snapped a shot at the keeper on 81 minutes and Gonzales could only head a hanging Holden cross at the keeper. On 84 minutes, a long Holden throw was becalmed on the floor of the six yard area desperate to be forced home, but was cleared. Then as the clock ticked into injury time, a long Holden throw was met cleanly by Billy Priestley who thundered his header gleefully past the keeper and he dived into the travelling Clitheroe supporters.

It was not a classic encounter, but on this occasion, the result was everything.

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