With Ossett Town coming to Shawbridge boasting an unbeaten away record, Simon Howarth showed real intent with a front three including re-signing George West, and two wing backs.

For the first half an hour, the Blues were irresistible. On 8 minutes, after neat interplay, Brad Carroll was sent through the defence and his lay off to West was driven home. The lead was doubled on 15 minutes when from a wickedly Inswinging corner from Stephen Rigby, Carroll headed the ball home from short range.

The home side could not switch off though, and minutes later experienced striker Emile Sinclair almost made the most of a mix up between Ryan Ellison and Ian Rowlands. Jacob Gregory was having lots of success overlapping on the right and on 19 minutes he slalomed through tackles, before Alex Newby saw his shot well saved. On 27 minutes, Gregory and Newby combined, before Kurt Willoughby saw his shot well saved.

With the crowd sensing a third goal, the game was turned on its head as an Ossett through ball was smothered by Thompson, but not before Rowlands could not alter his trajectory and he felled an opposing striker on the edge of the box. He received yellow, but the real price was a free kick which hit the post, cannoned back across goal and was stabbed home. Clitheroe had their own penalty shout four minutes later when in a clumsy tackle, a visiting defender controlled the ball with his hand on the floor, but to no avail. Ossett’s attacks were still rare, but Sinclair went close on 43 minutes with a solo break.

The second half was much more even as chances came at both ends. Carroll was in the thick of the action with a full length block on 68 minutes, before shortly afterwards he bulldozed through the opposition before laying on a good chance for Willoughby. With the clock ticking down, both sides appeared to have cancelled each other out, but deep into injury time, Sinclair controlled a deep cross on the right wing, chested it down and in one movement swept it home from a difficult angle. The visiting fans’ joy was understandable, but the reaction of Ossett’s Manager less so, as he was sent to the stand for celebrating in front of the Clitheroe bench.

The points were shared, but Clitheroe will feel aggrieved that their graft was undone by a goal of real quality.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jacob Gregory, Stephen Rigby, Ryan Ellison, Ian Rowlands (c), Thomas Smyth, Joe Mitchell, Brad Carroll, Kurt Willoughby, George West (Ross Dent), Alex Newby. Subs - Ross Dent. Not used - Adam Bolton, Leighton Egan, Charlie Russell, Robbie Bromley.