1874 Northwich 2 Clitheroe 2

Clitheroe battled hard to earn a point against the current form team in the league. They even had a sniff of all three points as the clock ticked down although a draw was a fair result. With player manager Billy Priestley in dry dock, Clitheroe looked to a new youthful central defensive pairing of Louis Jeanne and Bailey Sloane, whilst Ross Dent marked his 200th appearance for the club.

Clitheroe decided to kick up the considerable end to end slope in the first half and took some time to come to terms with that and with the width of the sizeable playing surface. 1874 were quickly into their stride and confidently used long diagonal balls to stretch the Blues’ defence, whilst Jake Connelly was getting some change out of his tussle on the left wing. The first significant chance fell to the home side, and after Richie Baker lost the ball in the middle of the park after dwelling on it too long, a lightning attack saw a shot hit the bar, and as the Clitheroe defenders threw themselves at the ball to block the follow up, the next shot skimmed over the bar at pace. However, minutes later, Clitheroe had the lead. Ben McKenna was fouled near the left hand apex of the box and from Cole Lonsdale’s low free kick, Sefton Gonzales could not connect but Jeanne just behind him swept it in. Ross Dent then went into the book for a crunching 50-50 challenge on ex Blue Markell Foulds, but 1874 were now finding their feet and looking to counter attack at every opportunity. When the equaliser came, it was a scruffy goal, with a surge down the right resulting in a low driven cross which saw a shot on goal, which Chris Thompson almost stopped before it limped in. This marked a period of sustained 1874 pressure, and as the clock ticked down to half time, a regulation Blue clearance saw an horrendous lofted miskick slice the ball back into the penalty area, and a home forward crumpled easily under a challenge. Thompson guessed correctly for the spot kick, but he could not keep out the shot. The whistle went almost immediately for half time.

No changes were made at half time, and whilst 1874 remained dangerous, it was Clitheroe who started to dictate the game. There was a proliferation of dramatic falls to the ground by the home side as they tried to turn the pressure up on the referee and to break up play whenever they could. Fresh legs were introduced after 65 minutes when Terry Cummings and Alex Turner came on, and whilst the tumbling to the ground continued, Clitheroe were starting to see real progress. McKenna was singled out for some harsh treatment by the home side and Clitheroe went close after a Jeanne header from a deep Lonsdale free kick flashed wide. Parity was restored when the tireless Gonzales freed McKenna on the right and from his driven cross, Turner bundled the ball home. Minutes later, Turner had a goal bound shot blocked by a despairing dive but as the travelling fans dreamt of a winner, 1874 almost spoiled the party in a rare attack as a forward turned on the edge of the box and hit the outside of the post with his shot.

When the whistle went, both sides appeared happy with the outcome.

Team: Thompson, Burrows, Lonsdale, Baker, Sloane, Jeanne, McKenna, Wilkins, Gonzales, Dent, Connelly
Subs (used) Turner, Cummings, Cane
Subs (not used) Edwards, Hodds