Clitheroe secured another hard-fought late win away at Mossley in a feisty match that saw the hosts reduced to nine men before Freddie Machell struck late to settle the game.

Clitheroe started stronger out of the two sides, with Nathan Sandison winning an early free kick 20 yards out after driving forward, which led to a corner. Unfortunately, this didn’t amount to anything, with the corner being swung to the back post and headed away by the Mossley defender but was an early sign of promise for the visitors. The game was very end to end in the opening stages, with Clitheroe choosing to play more direct given the state of the pitch, with the long grass and noticeable slant making it seem to be the more ideal option.

Mossley had the first real chance of the game, with a cross met by a header that was comfortably collected by Liam Isherwood. Clitheroe responded with their own first real opening, Demi Rhami played in down the left by Harry Scarborough before cutting back onto his right foot, though his effort went narrowly wide of the post. Rhami got the better of his full back again soon after, delivering another good ball across the face of goal, but this time there was no Clitheroe player there in the box to get a foot to it.

From here, the game began to heat up and gain a bit more intensity from both teams, but not just in the football they were playing. Brad Ditch was booked for a foul on the halfway line despite appeals from him that he had only touched the ball, before a late challenge on Sandison drew huge appeals for a red card from the Clitheroe side, though the referee only produced a yellow for Bailey Marsden. Just minutes later, the first real incident of the game occurred, with a late tackle by Max Harrison on Marsden resulted in a yellow card for the Blues defender. However, in reaction to that, Marsden put his forearm to the throat of Harrison, which was quickly spotted by the referee, and after a short melee between both teams the Mossley number 8 was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

Half Time: Mossley AFC 0-0 Clitheroe FC

Clitheroe made a change at the break, bringing on Jordan Windass in place of Harrison, probably a smart decision to not risk the fullback while already on a yellow card. The same feisty nature that had characterised the first half carried on into the second, with Clitheroe the stronger side throughout and managing the better of the chances, though nothing came particularly close to breaking the deadlock. Jason Gilchrist had Clitheroe's first chance of the second half, meeting a great cross into the middle of the box from Danny Wilkins with his head, only for the goalkeeper to just tip it over the bar. Scarborough then did well to hold the ball up on the edge of the box before sliding in Gilchrist again, but his shot was saved by the extending leg of the goalkeeper.

Rhami also tried his luck from distance, but his effort kept rising and went over the bar, however clearly showing the visitors intent to keep pushing for a goal. Clitheroe were starting to build on this pressure, especially with the advantage of an extra man, clearly being the better team again in the beginning of the second half. This was followed by Mossley making their first change of the afternoon, with their Ben Kershaw replaced by Callum Stringer.

A good corner from Windass found Ditch unmarked in the centre of the box, and although he managed to get a shot away on the volley, it bounced awkwardly off the floor and was easily saved by the goalkeeper. Clitheroe made a double change soon after, with Maine Walder coming on for Ditch and Touray replacing Gilchrist. Adding some more physicality into their attack would likely be beneficial in looking for a winner, especially against an already weakened side. Mossley responded with a substitution of their own, bringing on Kyle Campbell for Dylan Mantle, while Clitheroe made a further change, with Rio Alston coming on for Scarborough.

The game then became even more heated, as the home side were shown another red card. This was following a very late and high challenge on Alston, with Mason Fawns sliding in recklessly nearly the touchline and his studs catching Alston near the knee. After a short conversation with her assistant, the referee reached for her back pocket and reduced Mossley to nine men. Windass was booked for his reaction to the foul, pushing Fawns to the floor immediately after, and Sandison also picked up a caution shortly after for bringing down a Mossley player on the counter-attack, but Clitheroe continued to push for a breakthrough. Windass won a free kick on the edge of the box in a very promising position after cutting inside before driving towards goal, and it proved to be the moment that would give Clitheroe their winner. Sean Newton stood over the free kick and wrapped into around the wall, it was spilled out by the goalkeeper and the ball bounced kindly to Freddie Machell around 12 yards out as he smashed it home through the goalkeeper's legs to put Clitheroe in front with only minutes to go. Not long after, the referee blew the full time whistle, giving Clitheroe another well-deserved and hard fought for three points on the road.

A victory for Clitheroe against eventually nine men, with Machell's late strike proving to be the difference in a physical and bad-tempered game in Mossley.

Full Time: Mossley AFC 0-1 Clitheroe FC