Workington 1-0 Clitheroe
Clitheroe travelled to the West Cumbrian coast on the back of a nine match unbeaten league run, but found the home side in typically resilient form and could not make one a of a handful of chances count to steal a point.

The Blues won the toss and opted to kick with a strong wind at their back, but it was the home side who settled in best on a heavy pitch, which cut up badly. Chris Thompson was called upon to make a great save from a huge deflected shot, and was up again superbly to save from ex Blue Connor Gaul. After 10 minutes, he made another great save from a swerving shot from Symington, who had caused all the problems in the home fixture. Workington were now in their stride and after a header flashed passed Thompson’s goal from a corner, it was the home side who took the lead on 16 minutes. From a deep free kick on the right, the Clitheroe defence was left flat footed as the ball was volleyed home. This seemed to shake off some of the Clitheroe lethargy and the visitors started to probe down the flanks through McKenna and Cummings, although the home side was by and large equal to the challenge. Clitheroe had a number of half chances, albeit with Workington dangerous on the break, but it was McKenna who had the best chance as he outpaced the home defence to run clear but saw his shot well saved by the keeper.

The second half started could easily have seen an equaliser as from an early Clitheroe corner, the ball became mired in the mud in the box and as players piled in to extricate the ball, it was Ross Dent who saw his toe poke blocked on the line. On 53 minutes, Dent was flattened by a stray elbow as part of his fierce game long tussle with the home centre back, which would have consequences later in the game. Surprisingly, Workington did not make more use of the wind, but were content to match the Blues physically in the middle of the park. Workington still had time to rattle the bar from a free kick, but as the clock ticked down, the chance of the game fell to Max Cane, and as a deep corner was headed back into the six yard area, he could not get the ball from under his feet and the chance was gone. The tempo still didn’t let up, and as the game entered injury timed, Dent and his nemesis went for a 50-50 ball in a crunching tackle where no quarter was asked by either player. The centre back was left on the floor and Dent was sent for a slightly early bath, with Gaul getting a yellow card for his part in the subsequent melee.

When the final whistle blew, both sides knew they’d been in a game. Workington are a tough nut to crack on their own patch with their experienced side. However, with a touch more luck the Blues could easily have nicked a point, even if on the balance of play it would not have been deserved.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jamie Edwards, Cole Lonsdale, Richard Baker (Max Cane), Jack Burrows, Billy Priestley, Terry Cummings (Jake Connelly), Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales (c), Ross Dent, Ben McKenna. Subs - Max Cane, Jake Connelly. Not used - Louis Jeanne, Bailey Sloane, Matthew Hodds.