Improved perfomance for no reward

Boxing Day Blues!
Clitheroe 1-3 Colne 26-12-2018

In front of a season’s best crowd, Clitheroe matched their high flying opponents for much of the game, but ultimately succumbed to a fluke goal and to a quality finish from Colne’s top marksman.

Colne had the better of the first half, and put the home defence under pressure from the off, including a huge kick from Burton in the first minute, which saw a burst down the right, and but for a despairing block, a striker was shaping to score. On 8 minutes, Lewis Sugden made the first chance for the Blues as his deft free kick caused mayhem in the Colne box. Colne were using the flanks well and on 15 minutes, a deep cross from the left saw a striker shape up to volley, but his shot squirted tamely wide. Four minutes later, the result was closer, as another left wing cross saw Alex Curran whistle his shot over the bar.
Colne took the lead on 23 minutes, when a succession of poor defensive decisions by Clitheroe saw a visiting striker deftly chip the ball into the home goal. Colne had further chances, with Sugden having another good free kick well saved for the Blues. In the last five minutes, both teams had a gilt edged chance. On 40 minutes, goal scorer Lynch slalomed through the home defence but could not finish, whilst on 42 minutes a great run by Sugden, saw him slip in Jordan Fitton whose cross saw a shot from Hyuga Tanner, which was desperately blocked.

Clitheroe has the best possible start to the second half as the returning Jay Jeffries tore down the right and his lay off saw Tanner fire a superb shot into the top corner to equalise. Clitheroe were now on top and were threatening to take the lead as they turned up the pressure. However, their balloon was punctured as a fluke Colne cross somehow drifted into the net on 69 minutes, but there was no doubting the quality of the third as Curran was slipped through on 77 minutes and he made no mistake with his finish.

A much improved performance by the Blues, but it is points which are now required.

Team : Cameron Terry, Jay Jeffries (c), Jordyn Fitton (Jack Fleming), Michael Wilson, Josh Snowden, Oliver Muir, Hyuga Tanner, Michael Roddy, Harry Blackburn (Jacob Gregory), Lewis Sugden, Max Hazeldine. Subs - Jack Fleming, Jacob Gregory. Not used - Macauley Harewood, Michael Itela, Harry Pratt.