Clitheroe bow out of FA Trophy

Ashton United 1 Clitheroe 0

Clitheroe bowed out of the FA Trophy after putting in a highly competent performance, but were left to rue missing gilt edge chances and for switching off for one of the rare attacks by the home side.

Kicking with the moderate breeze in the first half, Clitheroe dominated the half, with Kielen Adams and Iwyrah Gooden proving to be an effective pairing up front. It was Gooden who first sprang the offside trap and his lay back to Danny Wilkins was driven narrowly wide. It was then Adams’s turn as he latched on to a big bouncing goal kick and as the keeper came to clear the ball, he lifted the ball expertly over him, only for it to bounce away off the bar.
Shortly afterwards, Adams lashed a fierce left foot shot across goal, forcing an excellent save, and as the ball came back into the box, Conor Gaul headed the ball unchallenged into the keeper’s midriff, with the goal gaping. Gooden’s day came to an end when he was crudely fouled and he was unable to shake off the dead leg he received. As the half wound down, it suddenly sprang to life.
Wilkins was booked for hooking the ball over his shoulder but in the process kicking the player behind him fully in the face. It took several minutes for the player to be led off the pitch, but from the restart the Clitheroe defence seemed to have switched off and after a scruffy passage of play, Chris Thompson had no chance from a short range shot. The half time whistle blew five seconds later.

In the second half, Ashton were content to launch the ball with the wind down the pitch and to invite the Blues on to them. The game went through a flat period but Terry Cummings foiled a goal bound shot before the ball went to the other end and Wilkins hit the post. Cummings was finding space whenever he marauded forward and further chances came. After two despairing Ashton clearances as they packed the box, the ball fell to Cole Lonsdale, whose pile driver thudded against the post and ran across the goal line to safety. Further pressure was applied but the home defence held form.

Some of the football played by Clitheroe matched their best this season, but they must develop the habit of scoring when on top.

Team : Chris Thompson, Terry Cummings, Cole Lonsdale, Gary Stopforth, Billy Priestley (c), James Mutton, Iywrah Gooden (Braulio Maieco), Danny Wilkins, Kielen Adams (Craig Hobson), Danny Pilkington (Oscar O'Neil), Conor Gaul. Subs - Braulio Maieco, Oscar O'Neil, Craig Hobson. Not used - Oliver Muir, Ross Dent, Jake Connelly, David Lynch.