By Chris Musson

With Ben McKenna making his debut and another crowd nearing 600 on at Shawbridge, everything was set fair for Clitheroe to progress in the FA Trophy. However, even though the home team had the numerical advantage for more than half of the game, they ultimately went down in an epic penalty shoot-out.

It was McKenna who first showed in the game after Ross Dent slipped him through on four minutes, but it was the visitors who took the lead three minutes later after a daisy-cutting cross from the right eluded a forest of defensive legs, leaving Gavin Allott free to score comfortably.

Two minutes later Liversedge had another good chance after excellent work down the right, but thereafter it was all Clitheroe. On 13 minutes, Dent had a point-blank header saved, Sefton Gonzales was foiled with the follow up before Cole Lonsdale shot wide. Six minutes later, Gary Stopforth found himself in acres pf space after a great burst, but seemed in two minds when he got to the bye line whether to shoot or pass.

On 22 minutes, a Gonzales header set Dent through on goal and he was brought to the ground in the box. Lonsdale made no mistake from the penalty spot. By now chances were coming at both ends, with a Liversedge flying header quickly followed up by a terrible Liversedge back-pass which almost let in the Blues.

Harrison Burke then saw a header from a corner go narrowly wide, before on 38 minutes the visiting keeper pulled off a superb save from a Dent header. That was to be the keeper’s last positive contribution to the game as one minute later he was given his marching orders for flattening Dent as Clitheroe’s last man. This called for a quick reshuffle, bringing Joe Walton, a centre forward, from the bench to go between the sticks.

The second half took place exclusively in the Liversedge half. However, the visitors kept their shape and Walton pulled off a series of outstanding point-blank saves from Dent and Gonzales. Burke went close again with a header, before on 78 minutes he went on a 60-yard charge, forcing a great save from a well struck shot. McKenna got back in on the act on 83 minutes as his volley on the move whistled across the goal. Substitutes came on, but Clitheroe could not breach Liversedge’s defences.

When the penalty shoot-out started, Chris Thompson saved the first spot kick, but it was his only success. Meanwhile, stand-in Walton pulled off two saves to send his team through to an unlikely victory.

Team : Chris Thompson, Harrison Burke, Cole Lonsdale, Gary Stopforth, Louis Jeanne (Zack Clarke), Billy Priestley, Ben McKenna, Richie Baker, Sefton Gonzales (c), Ross Dent (Alex Turner), Louis Almond (Rhys Long). Subs - Rhys Long, Alex Turner, Zack Clarke. Not used - Joel Mills, Maine Walder, Ricardo Pembele, Jack Burrows.
Attendance 583