Clitheroe had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Runcorn Linnets in a feisty and well battled game, with an excellently worked corner routine cancelling out an early Runcorn lead before a disallowed late goal denied the Blues all three points.

Runcorn had the first chance of the game, but the effort went straight at the goalkeeper, showing some threat early on but nothing to worry Liam Isherwood in the Blue’s goal. Clitheroe responded with a good chance of their own, Jason Gilchrist holding the ball up well before setting Nathan Sandison up for a cross, though Touray couldn't quite get across his defender and the goalkeeper collected comfortably. Runcorn looked to set the tone early on with a hard challenge on Machell, making their approach obvious for what was already looking to be a feisty game in the opening minutes.

This was followed by another foul only minutes later, this time on Sandison, giving Jordan Windass a free kick in a good position, but it was cleared by the Runcorn defence without causing any real danger. Sandison then drove at the player marking him, knocking the ball past the full back before being dragged down, and the defender was shown a yellow card which gave the winger the opportunity to play riskier knowing the man was now on a booking. Clitheroe were looking very positive at this stage, continuously trying to move the ball forward and progress through the opposition’s half, all while keeping any Runcorn attacks at bay. However, Runcorn did have a couple more chances of their own, particularly through efforts from distance, but Clitheroe put in a good defensive showing to keep them out with Brad Ditch and Sean Newton looking impossible to get past.

Unfortunately, Runcorn got the first goal and took the lead after a good team move down the right side of the pitch ended with the cross being pulled back and a dummy, before it was smashed in from 12 yards by Matthew Whittingham. Clitheroe responded almost immediately with their closest chance of the game, a deep cross from Sandison finding Gilchrist at the back post, who headed it back across the face of goal for Touray, but his header came back off the bar and was cleared away. An agonisingly close effort for the home side, but not to be the one to get them back in the game. Another chance followed only moments later, Touray clipping the ball in to Rhami, but an awkward bounce meant his effort went over the bar.

Runcorn made their first change of the afternoon, with Brendan O’Brien forced off through an injury and was replaced by Franklin Denison. Windass then delivered another great ball, this time to the front post which met Touray's head, but the Runcorn defender managed to get across and block it away. Jake Carroll took it upon himself to drive forward, going past a couple of players before striking from distance, but his effort flew over the bar. Soon after, the ball was then switched out wide to Windass, who found Sandison in space. He turned his marker and cut down the line onto his right foot before getting a shot away, but it too went over the bar. Unlucky to be down at half time as they had come close numerous times, but the Blues would have work to do in the second half to pull it back.

Half Time: Clitheroe FC 0-1 Runcorn Linnets

Runcorn started the second half the stronger side, continuing the same approach from the first half and keeping Clitheroe relatively quiet in the opening stages. Windass continued to provide excellent deliveries, one of which was swung into the box and deflected behind for a corner, narrowly avoiding an own goal in the process and looked Clitheroe’s first real spark of the second half. Not long after though, Clitheroe drew level soon after through an outstanding corner routine, clearly planned by Sean McConville and something that they had been working on for a while. Played in short by Windass, it was then stepped over by Gilchrist, leaving the Runcorn defenders confused as they watch it run to Sean Newton, who rifled the ball home into the middle of the net to make it 1-1. Clitheroe made a change shortly after, with Harry Scarborough coming on for Touray.

Runcorn appeared to back off slightly following the equaliser, looking less aggressive than they had been and giving Clitheroe more room on the ball to progress forward, though neither side was managing to create many clear cut chances. Clitheroe made a double change, bringing on Rio Alston and Max Harrison in place of Sandison and an injured Sean Newton. Both sides continued to keep each other relatively quiet from there, each looking for a way back in front but too wary of conceding to fully commit everyone forward, with the game being played through long balls that weren't proving to be effective. Runcorn made a further change, with Nick Rushton replacing goalscorer Whittingham. Max Harrison was shown a yellow card for a late tackle, giving Runcorn a free kick in the Clitheroe final third, however it was cleared out and managed to almost start a counter attack but Scarborough couldn’t completely get the ball under control. Runcorn made a last late substitution, pushing for a winner, bringing on Harry McGee for Conor Harwood, while Clitheroe responded with a change of their own, Jackson Shorrocks coming on for Freddie Machell. Ditch was then shown a yellow card for pulling back a Runcorn player on the halfway line, probably a good decision to stop their attack and ensure Clitheroe didn’t concede late on.

Clitheroe thought they had found a winner late on, yet another great cross from Windass finding Scarborough in the middle, who manage to skip past his defender and tap the ball home, only for the linesman's flag to be raised and the goal ruled out for offside. However, much to the striker’s dismay, he seemed to have been onside despite the flag being up but the referee gave the decision in what would be the last chance of the game.

A result that will be hard to take for Clitheroe but a celebration for Runcorn, with the Blues having fought back well from conceding early with a well-worked equaliser, only to see a potential winner chalked off in the closing stages difficult and feisty encounter.

Full Time: Clitheroe FC 1-1 Runcorn Linnets

- Charlie Barnes