Clitheroe 4 Runcorn Linnets 4

By Andy Hammond

An astonishing finish to an eight goal thriller at Shawbridge.

Linnets took the lead on 15 minutes when Paul Shanley converted a cross from the right.

Clitheroe fought back and scored three times before half time. Charlie Russell levelled on 29 minutes then two goals from Owen Watkinson gave the home side the advantage.

The second half saw Clitheroe keeper Connor King, make some excellent saves as Linnets tried to get back in to the game.

The game exploded in to life on 83 minutes, when Watkinson was shown a red card reducing Clitheroe to ten men. There was a brief stoppage as tempers between both teams and benches got rather heated.

Linnets took advantage and Ryan Wade pulled one back before they were awarded a penalty in the first minute of stoppage time. Kurt Sherlock converted the kick to make it 3-3.

Almost from the kick-off, Clitheroe re-took the lead when Conor Gaul's cross found Terry Cummings in space to blast home from close range.

The scoring was not complete though and Linnets were awarded a second spot kick for a handball against a Clitheroe defender. Sherlock again converted the kick and won the point for his side.

Clitheroe: King, Jackson (Grey 88), Gregory, Muir, Foulds, O'Neil, Cummings, Russell, Watkinson, Mulgrew (Tanner 65), Gaul (Dugdale 90+5). Substitutes: Terry, Connelly.