Trafford 0 Clitheroe 5
Att. 480

Clitheroe continued their recent run of sensational form, and despite changes in personnel through injury, totally dominated the game against Trafford and rattled up five goals without response. It could easily have been more.

Clitheroe started the game on the front foot and rarely took a backward step. Moses Yoak made his debut in the centre of defence with Cameron Lancaster, and despite never having played as a unit before, any headers that came their way were comfortably dealt with. Yoak was also in the thick of the action when he was fouled on the edge of the Trafford box, and Richie Baker pinged a 20 yard free kick against the bar, before he limped off with a calf strain shortly after.

The pressure never let up and it was no surprise on 15 minutes when sharp, short passes by Clitheroe saw Sefton Gonzales lay the ball off to his strike partner, Max Cane, and he made it six goals in three games. The Blues were dangerous with every attack and Lancaster whistled a header wide from a corner shortly after. On 29 minutes, Jack Burrows made the first of many bursts down the right flank from defence and his cross to Cane saw the latter chip the ball over the bar

. Everyone was getting in on the action and on 37 minutes, the tireless Jamie Edwards set up substitute Alex Turner, who drilled a shot narrowly wide. A minute later, Gonzales laid a sublime ball through to the rampaging Ross Dent, and whilst his shot on the move was excellently saved, he came together with the home keeper and sustained a knock that saw home come off at half time.

Minutes later, Gonzales found himself on the edge of the opposition box with his back to goal, and his turn and fierce shot into the top corner was from the top drawer. Finally, with half time approaching, Burrows was released by Edwards down the right and his hanging cross was easily won and converted by Gonzales.

The second half started out in more sedate fashion as Clitheroe sat deeper inviting Trafford on, before hitting them on the break. However, by the end of the period, Clitheroe were back to their vibrant attacking best. Clitheroe added to their lead when Edwards was felled in the box and Gonzales converted, scoring the Blues’ fourth and registering his first ever hat trick.

The pace did not drop and on 83 minutes, Cane almost got in on goal after a 50 yard run. Minutes later, Cane robbed the keeper yards out of his area on the bye line, but could not make it count. However, he was not to be denied, and after a 40 yard run by Edwards, his slide rule pass behind each of the retreating defenders fell to Cane, and there was only ever going to be one outcome. There was still time for Cane to go for his hat trick, but as he shaped to shoot with the clock ticking down, he selflessly passed to Gonzales who saw his shot smothered.

On this kind of form, no side in the league could live with Clitheroe. However, with only five games to go, the finish line could just be coming too soon for the Blues and their play off aspirations.

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