It was an afternoon to forget for Clitheroe as they failed to add the midweek win Droylsden. The game itself lacked quality in the first half with neither side being able to take control. The front three of Newby, Willoughby and Tuanzebe tried to make things happen but it seemed to be much an individual effort rather than a team.
Tadcaster were compressed and tight in the middle of the park which made life really hard for the Blues who found it increasingly difficult to retain possession. As the half progressed neither side had managed to test the opposition goalkeepers and it became apparent how Tadcaster managed to fight out a well-deserved draw against South Shields prior to the fixture.

Clitheroe were missing Ross Dent who often brought the urgency they needed against Droylsden and it was clear that they missed his work rate. Towards the end of the half it looked like the Blues had woken up and were ready to give it to the Yorkshire side with a couple of brilliant chances going begging first from Willoughby and second from Newby with both forwards striking straight at the Tadcaster keeper.
With their end to the half it would have been expected of Clitheroe to have built on the earlier momentum from the end of the half but Tadcaster were determined to make life more and more difficult for them.
It was a free kick on the 65th minute that pretty much summed up the afternoon for Clitheroe, a simple ball swung in, and a free header for Stewart fired the visitors in front completely unmarked. It's worth noting that despite Tadcaster making life difficult there's no doubting that Clitheroe themselves did not help themselves with this goal and going forward it was apparent that this was not to be a team performance like we saw against Tadcaster.
George Hughes on loan from Shrewsbury, was described by Simon Haworth as "setting an example" to the other young players in the side and it's not hard to see why as he dealt with occasion brilliantly and was the only one making things happen. The youngster also had arguably Clitheroe's biggest chance in the second half glancing a header just over. Chances became less and less of an opportunity as the game went on and Newby's high flying free kick in the last minute just about summed up their day.

The final whistle blew and it was clear it was not to be a happy dressing room.

Team : Chris Thompson, Ryan Ellison (Caldon Henson), Stephen Rigby, Ian Rowlands, Danny Brady (c), George Hughes, Joe Mitchell (Danny Byrnes), Brad Carroll (Jacob Gregory), Kurt Willoughby, Alex Newby, Dimitri Tuanzebe. Subs - Danny Byrnes, Caldon Henson, Jacob Gregory. Not used - Harry Blackburn.