Clitheroe were beaten 4-3 by Congleton Town in a thriller of a game, fighting back from two goals down and levelling the game late into stoppage time, only to be denied by a last-minute winner in absolute heartbreak for the home side against a team bottom of the league table.

Clitheroe had the first effort of the game with Harry Scarborough taking a good touch to set up Freddie Machell on the edge of the box, but his shot was saved, however was showing positive signs at the beginning of the game. Soon after, an amazing ball from Maine Walder sent Rio Alston clean through on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat, and although he was nearly wiped out in the process, the goalkeeper did just enough to clear the ball out away from danger. Against the run of play, Congleton Town took a shock lead with a strike from the edge of the box by Kieran Knapper that crept in at the near post through a harsh deflection that sent Liam Isherwood the wrong way. Jake Carroll was shown a yellow card for a late tackle from behind that stopped a promising Congleton attack, which could become a worry for Clitheroe. Jordan Windass then delivered a brilliant ball across the face of goal, but there was no Clitheroe player there to turn it home, however they were pushing more and more for an equaliser as the first half continued. Another of McConville's well-drilled corner routines, which had proven effective in recent weeks, gave Jake Carroll a sight of goal from close range, but his effort was deflected away by a defender and resulted in nothing for the Blues.

Alston tried his luck from distance, only for his effort to be blocked, and he had another go at the rebound but couldn't find the target either. Demi Rhami and Jason Gilchrist combined well to give the winger the chance to cross, and he found Scarborough at the back post, but the goalkeeper smothered the header before it could cause any danger. Congleton were then awarded a penalty for a supposed handball in the box, giving them the chance to double their lead, however with the crowding in the box it seemed almost impossible for the referee to be able to see what had actually happened. The penalty was calmly dispatched into the top left corner by Rob Stevenson to make it 2-0, giving Clitheroe an even more difficult job to fight their way back into this game. A great ball over the top from Windass was nodded down by and put Scarborough in on goal, but the covering defender did well to get back and block the effort before it became a problem for the goalkeeper. Congleton Town had the majority of the momentum throughout the first half, having the better of the chances and keeping Clitheroe largely quiet, with the Blues needing a big response after the break.

Half Time: Clitheroe FC 0-2 Congleton Town

Clitheroe made a triple change at the break, bringing on Nathan Sandison, Touray, and Max Harrison in place of Rhami, Windass, and Alston as they looked to start a comeback. It worked almost immediately, as Clitheroe pulled one back through some great hold-up play from Touray down the right wing, who clipped the ball back into the box for Gilchrist to head home and bring them right back into the game. Congleton made a change of their own, with Juliuus Ndene replacing Darren Chadwick. Harrison then did really well to beat his man, cutting inside before switching back to drive down the line and looping a great ball into the box that looked like it was in fact going to nestle in the far corner, only for it to narrowly go out for a goal kick. Congleton's Shakeel Jones-Griffith was shown a yellow card for dragging back Scarborough on a counter-attack, probably a smart decision as the striker would have been nearly in on goal. Clitheroe made a further change, with Walder making way for Wilkins as they pushed for their equaliser.

Congleton Town weren't managing as many chances in the second half, but Clitheroe also went quiet after their goal, needing to find some energy to really push for a result. The Blues then had a bundle of chances all at once, first through a header from Gilchrist, and then an array of efforts on the line from Scarborough and Freddie Machell, but none of them could find a way over the line. Touray was dragged down in the penalty area despite being nowhere near the ball, giving Clitheroe what looked a clear way back into the game, but the linesman's flag was raised and the penalty was overturned for offside. Sean McConville was shown a yellow card for dissent following his appeals at the decision. Clitheroe then had the ball in the back of the net through another goal-line scramble, Newton putting it in from close range, but the referee ruled out the goal for handball, yet another decision costing the home side a way back into the game. Sandison was then shown a yellow card of his own for simulation, trying to win Clitheroe a penalty. This proved to be a costly decision as only ten minutes later Sandison was then shown a second yellow card, this time for dragging down a Congleton Town player on the counter-attack, and Clitheroe were reduced to ten men.

Congleton made a substitution of their own as the game entered the final stages, Joe Woolley coming on for Matthew Gillam as they looked to keep hold of their lead. With Clitheroe risking everything going forward in search of an equaliser, they were left exposed at the back, and Congleton Town punished them by adding a third to their tally with Rob Stevenson slotting it home. Jake Carroll pulled one back for Clitheroe soon after, shooting from distance to give the Blues a lifeline. Then, surprisingly, Jason Gilchrist levelled the game, heading in from a great ball swung into the box to give Clitheroe a chance of getting something from the game. They continued to knock on the door from there, going close time and again as they pushed for a dramatic late winner, but it wasn't to be. After what looked a blatant missed foul and a corner that should have been given, Congleton broke away and scored in the last minute, Peter Williams lifting the ball over Isherwood to take all three points with only seconds left to play.

A heartbreaking result for Clitheroe, who showed incredible character to fight back, only to be denied by a late winner.

Full Time: Clitheroe FC 3-4 Congleton Town

- Charlie Barnes