Clitheroe 4-2 Lancaster City

On an exceptionally raining Tuesday night Shawbridge welcomed the unbeaten Lancaster City fresh from a 3-2 win against Evo-stik Divison one news boys Witton Albion. Whilst Simon Garners men in blue were still licking their wounds from a 3 goal hammering at the hands of Mossley.

The seems a theme for The Blue, however because it took only three minutes for Scott Bakkor to be pulled down in the box by Lancaster man Garry Hunter, referee Simpson confident in awarding the spot kick. Bakkor converted the penalty to put the Blues in front.

Ten minutes later The Blue’s pleaded for another penalty as Jacob Davis brought Lloyd Dean down 9 yards form goal, this time Simpson wasn’t impressed.

For most of the first half the visitors were kept at arms length, but Garry Hunter proved such could be risking as his half volley on the edge of the box looked all but in before the rising hand of Jakovlevs kept The Blues in front.

Two minutes before half time Lancaster could have equaliser through centre forward Aaron Taylor, the tall number 10 fire across goal and inches wide condemning his side to walk in at the half a goal down.

The Second half followed the premise of the first, this time it took six minutes for Simon Garner’s men to score. Scott Harries pin-point ball into the six yard box rebounded low and hard from the head of Louis Mayers.

Now 2-0 in front the Shawbridge side looked in control.

However Darren Peacock’s side weren’t making the long journey back up the M6 without a fight, Aaron Taylor latched onto end of a Joseph Whittington 59th minute pass to pull one back for the visitors from six yards.

A period of nervousness followed with Lancaster pilling pressure and aggravation from fans and players towards referee Simpson who awarded a free kick in the 84th minute to Peacock’s side, Ross Dent adjudged to have gone in unfairly on Hunter. The subsequent ball into the box was headed home by Taylor for his second.

A valuable three points and the best start to a season in three years looked in tatters, until a single minute later when Lloyd Dean put Clitheroe back in front, striking firm into the bottom right of keeper Michael Donlon’s goal making it 3-2

A third win in four games was secured in the 90th minute when Scott Harries slotted home following brilliant blues build up play, now four goals to two Simon Garner’s men would walk away with the three points.

The result leaves The Blues on 9 points as they leapfrog Lancaster City.

The Teams:

Clitheroe:
Jakovlevs, Heywood, Walker, Brady, Anderson, J. Lynch (75’ Dent), Harries (90 Hession), D. Lynch ©, Mayers, Dean, Bakkor

Subs: Holt, Dent, Hession, Hampson, Garner

Lancaster City:
Donlon, Antoine-Clarke, Hudson, Davis (70’ Clarke), Marshall ©, Hunter, Winder, Akrigg (45’ Gregory), Pearce (70’ Carlton), Taylor, Whittington

Subs: Street, Carlton, Poole, Gregory, Clarke