Clitheroe looked to bounce back from a midweek defeat at Runcorn against a Shifnal side full of confidence after a win at Atherton Collieries, but the sides couldn’t be separated on the day.

The Blues started on the front foot and created an early opening in the 9th minute for Leon Creech as a cross from Luke Gill found the striker at the back post but his shot was blocked heroically off the line by the Shifnal defence.

The early pressure paid off as the home side took the lead 15 minutes into the contest when Jack Morris volleyed home a loose ball from inside the area.

Clitheroe doubled their lead six minutes later after Harry Scarorough slipped in Creech, who held his nerve and finished neatly past Andrew Wycherley.

Shifnal were denied an opportunity to get back into the game on the stroke of half time when Matthew Barnes-Homer’s headed effort was ruled out for the target man straying offside.

Half-Time: Clitheroe 2-0 Shifnal Town

The visitors showed their resilience after the restart, however, as a Niall Flint shot was parried by Zac Hadi into the path of Shaq Leachman-Whittingham, who tapped home from close range in the 62nd minute.

Leachman-Whittingham then grabbed the equaliser for Shifnal and his second of the game with a fantastic header after a floated cross from Kyle Bennett to bring the game level with 10 minutes remaining.

Clitheroe had the chance to snatch a late winner in stoppage time after Veron Parny collected the ball out on the right before cutting inside and curling a shot towards the top left corner. However, his attempt agonisingly caught the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

Full-Time: Clitheroe 2-2 Shifnal Town

This frustrating result leaves Sean McConville’s men still searching for their first league victory in over a month, but they look to go again on Boxing Day with a trip to Bury.