Newcastle Town 0 Clitheroe 1

Clitheroe were made to work for their three points by a youthful, skilful Newcastle side, and it was not until they had weathered a tricky first 30 minutes before they slipped finally into gear.

After a cagey start, the home team began to spray the ball around to great effect and for a while Clitheroe were at sixes and sevens. Chris Thompson was called upon to deal with a great volley from the home centre forward after he latched on to a high bouncing through ball, and this was followed by another snap shot by Newcastle just over the bar. Thompson was then called upon to make a finger tip save, before he was almost undone by a looping cross which he managed to tip on to the bar and finally secure the ball.

It was almost half an hour before the Blues started to show any of their quality. Sefton Gonzales flicked the ball narrowly wide from a Cole Lonsdale free kick, whilst Zack Clarke had a huge chance as great Clitheroe passing opened up the defence, and after settling himself he steered the ball too wide of the keeper when the goal was gaping in front of him. Richie Baker forced a finger tip save from a 20 yard drive, but Newcastle were not a spent force. They were still staying true to their passing game and made further half chances before half time.

The manager rang the changes at half time and brought in Ross Dent to stiffen the midfield and Terry Cummings to add guile and pace, and the visitors never looked back. Cummings went close as he latched on to a Ben McKenna through ball after good work from Jack Burrows on the right, but his shot slid wide. Clitheroe had a huge shout for a penalty which went begging, but they had to be on their mettle as Newcastle had their only real chance of the half as a flick from a corner forced a reflex save from Thompson with Billy Priestley somehow managing to pick up the pieces and get rid of the danger.

Thereafter it was all Clitheroe, with Cummings in particular, supported by Mckenna, causing endless problems. Priestley had a header from a corner flash wide, Cummings forced a good save before minutes later Ross Dent used his strength to shield the ball on the edge of the box and hit a shot on to the bar. The pressure eventually told as a blatant handball saw a penalty awarded to the visitors, but Cole Lonsdale’s penalty was well saved, and whilst the rebound was forced home, the final touch was deemed to be offside. Further Clitheroe chances came but the travelling fans feared that this was not to be their day. However, Harrison Burke had other ideas and on 84 minutes he latched on to a nod back from a deep corner and he buried the ball firmly in the net. The Clitheroe fans dispersed around the ground celebrated and Clitheroe never looked like surrendering the lead, indeed increasing the lead was always the likelier outcome.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jack Burrows, Cole Lonsdale, Richard Baker, Harrison Burke, Billy Priestley, Zack Clarke (Ross Dent), Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales (c), Ben McKenna, Jake Connelly (Terry Cummings). Subs - Terry Cummings, Ross Dent. Not used - Joel Mills, Bailey Sloane, Alex Turner.