Clitheroe 1-2 Tadcaster Albion 07-01-20

Penalty problems for Blues as unbeaten home run ended by play-off rivals.

Connor Gaul twice missed from the penalty spot as the Blues suffered a first home league defeat since early September. Top scorer Gaul has done little wrong since joining Clitheroe in the summer but had a night to forget as Phil Brown’s men finished pointless at Shawbridge for the first time in nine games.
On-loan Burnley teenager Mitch George scored his first Clitheroe goal to give the Blues a deserved half-time lead.
But Tadcaster hit back to score either side of Gaul’s two failed attempts and then hung on to stay above the Blues and inside the North-West Division’s play-off places.
The Blues handed a ‘debut’ to Chris Thompson following his return to Shawbridge from Droylsden as one of two changes to the side that had launched 2020 with a derby-day win at Colne.
And the keeper immediately made himself back at home with some important saves in an entertaining opening 45 minutes which brought the Blues a half-time lead.
Thompson turned away a deflected strike from Jacob Day before keeping out a header from Ioan Evans and then blocking a close-range header from Jack Walters.
But the best chances came the Blues’ way as despite too often failing to make promising positions pay, they constantly looked a threat on the break. Gaul tested Tadcaster keeper Arron Burn with an early effort before Owen Watkinson snatched at a shot he dragged wide.

The Blues were then only inches away from going in front when an excellent move saw Charlie Russell release Watkinson, whose drilled low cross was steered against the near post by George. And with just over half an hour gone they did make the breakthrough as George opened his account.
Terry Cummings – fresh from signing a contract with the Blues – launched the decisive counter-attack before picking out Gaul to cross low for George to sweep the ball home at the far post.

It was a just reward for the Blues’ first-half performance but within five minutes Tadcaster had hit back to draw level.
The impressive Donald Chimalilo got the goal his performance deserved when he met Alfie Beeston’s pull-back to steer a shot past Thompson to trigger a spell of pressure from the Yorkshiremen.
The next goal looked likely to go the visitors' way as the Blues lost their grip and so it proved – but only after Clitheroe had passed up a golden opportunity to go in front.

A push in the back on Watkinson gave Gaul the chance to add to his tally from the penalty spot. But his weak effort was saved by Burn and within two minutes the Blues were made to pay when Walters curled in a superb free-kick to put Albion ahead.
Gaul looked to make amends with an effort again stopped by Burn and then delivering a perfect cross for Ollie Wood which the substitute headed wide.
But the best chance to repair the damage and salvage a point disappeared five minutes from the end when Watkinson was again fouled and Gaul, bravely stepping up, blasted his effort well over the bar.

Clitheroe : Chris Thompson, Danny Gray, Finlay Armstrong, Craig Stanley, Markell Foulds, Charlie Russell (c), Terry Cummins, Oscar O'Neil (Jacob Gregory), Owen Watkinson, Mitch George (Ollie Wood), Conor Gaul. Subs - Jacob Gregory, Ollie Wood. Not used - Jack Camarda, Jake Connelly, Ollie Stirzaker.

Tadcaster: Burn; Porritt (Hartley 45), Evans, Vann, Walters; Wiles, Rose; Bokinji, Annan (Beeston 7), Chimalilo (Dos Santos 71); Day. Substitutes: Ingham, Valladolid-Collins.

Attendance: 290