Marine 0 Clitheroe 2

Clitheroe silenced the home crowd of 1,000 at second placed Marine with a scintillating display from front to back, but even in a team of giants, Sefton Gonzales put on one of the finest performances of strength, awareness and team play ever seen in a Clitheroe shirt.

The Blues had an enforced change from Saturday’s game, with George Bristol stepping up to replace Chris Thompson for his second game for the first team. Billy Priestley was still side-lined and Cameron Lancaster again shared centre back duties with Lee Pugh. After a cagey start, it soon became clear that Clitheroe had the firepower across the pitch to worry Marine, and with Gonzales continually drawing two players to him, Jamie Edwards and Bailey Sloane found themselves making inroads.

The first real chance fell the way of Gonzales on 21 minutes and he forced a great save from FA Cup hero Bayleigh Passant. Three minutes later the Marine defenders were hurling bodies everywhere as they blocked three goal bound strikes in quick succession. Lee Pugh’s long throws were also causing problems and it was no surprise on 37 minutes when Gonzales shielded the ball before he laid it off to Edwards who rode two tackles in the box, before he laid a superb ball to Max Cane to bury with aplomb, making it four goals in two games. Marine’s only chance came from a dangerous free kick on the edge of the D as the clock kicked down, but the harmless shot summed up a first half dominated by Clitheroe.

The Blues’ fans were expecting a huge response from Marine, but if anything Clitheroe’s domination increased in the second half. Pugh limped off early in the half, but Jack Burrows slotted in easily. Ross Dent who was a force of nature all game looked to going the same way as he went head first into a wall, but true to form he shook himself down and carried on. Marine briefly threatened from an in-swinging corner, which almost went straight in, but the flag was raised for offside.

On 61 minutes, Gonzales released Cane on goal and his shot was excellently saved by Passant. On 70 minutes it was Edwards’ chance to release Cane after a 30 yard run, but Passant was again in top form to save with his feet. However, Cane did not have long to wait for his next goal after Gonzales received a Ben McKenna throw at his feet, manoeuvred past three defenders in close attention and laid the ball to Cane who gleefully thumped the ball home.

McKenna limped off after rolling his ankle, but there was still time for Edwards to go one on one with Passant, before Gonzales then put substitute Jake Connelly through, again forcing a smart save. On 85 minutes, Gonzales muscled past three players and Connelly could only blaze his pass over the bar. The Marine skipper then saw red for his second yellow card before the referee blew her whistle.

In short, a stupendous all round performance and but for the heroics of the Marine keeper, it could have been significantly more.

Team : George Bristol, Ben McKenna (Jake Connelly), Bailey Sloane, Richard Baker, Cameron Lancaster, Lee Pugh (Jack Burrows), Ross Dent, Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales (c), Max Cane, Jamie Edwards. Subs - Jack Burrows, Jake Connelly. Not used - Joel Byrom, Gabriel Humphries, Alex Turner.