Glossop North End 0-2 Clitheroe

Clitheroe continued in their rich vein of form to stay top of the table and deservedly left Surrey Street with all the points but with a suspension looming over playmaker Danny Wilkins. The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides seeming to size up the opposition.

Both sides had half chances, with Clitheroe’s coming mainly down the left flank with Jake Connelly in rich form, and similarly the most danger was coming down the Glossop right. There was no specific action to report in the first half, save the nasty shoulder injury to the Glossop right-back who until that point had been having a mighty tussle with Connelly.

The second half saw Clitheroe kicking up the slight incline and they took the lead after 50 minutes as a Cole Lonsdale corner was headed back into the box for joint boss Billy Priestley to slam home. After 67 minutes, Priestley returned the favour as a deep Wilkins corner was headed back for Sefton Gonzales to head home.

Clitheroe were in overdrive at this point and further chances fell their way, particularly to Gonzales, but the momentum was stopped when seemingly from nowhere, Wilkins received a yellow card for dissent shortly after receiving a first yellow for a foul and he had to leave the pitch.
Despite this, Clitheroe if anything went up a gear and Jamie Edwards, who had just come on the pitch, provided much of the Clitheroe cutting edge.

As the clock ticked down he ran 50 yards and was only foiled at the death, but when the final whistle went the Blues fully justified the ovation they received from the impressive Clitheroe following. The result continued the flying start for the Blues' new-look management team , with their next test coming in Monday's top-of-the-table clash at home to second-placed Workington, who extended their 100 per cent start with a 1-0 win over Marine.

Team : Chris Thompson, Gary Stopforth, Cole Lonsdale, Richie Baker, Harrison Burke, Billy Priestley, Conor Gaul (Jamie Edwards), Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales (c), Ross Dent, Jake Connelly (Joel Mills). Subs - Jamie Edwards, Joel Mills. Not used - Taylor Brickell, Ricardo Pembele, Mbako Chalashika.