Heaton Stannington 1 Clitheroe 2

Despite the tally of two red cards and an ocean of yellow cards, this was never anything other than a game played at full pace between two committed sides. Somehow the lightning flashing before a 20 minute monsoon created the perfect backdrop for the game, although the almost 900 crowd were then sent scurrying to seek shelter under the trees which lined one side of the ground.

The Blues did not let four yellow cards in the first 30 minutes interrupt their stride and they had the preponderance of good chances, with any which fell the home side’s way being squandered through the lack of a cool head. Max Cane had the ball in the net as early as the 7th minute, but his header was ruled out as fractionally offside. Four minutes later, Billy Priestley got on the end of a trademark Lee Pugh throw and his header shaved the post. The Stan were playing their part in the game but could not carve out a quality chance and after half an hour, home defenders were throwing themselves at the outstanding Sefton Gonzales as he shaped to shoot in the box. When the first Clitheroe goal came shortly afterwards it was no surprise. Max Cane ran on to a ball on the right and quickly laid the ball to Reece Webb-Foster who ghosted inside and placed his shot in across the keeper. Ross Dent then saw his controlled side foot shot whistle over before Jack Burrows had an audacious cross cum shot which saw the back pedalling keeper under real pressure as he conceded a corner. From this Dent and Richie Baker were foiled in quick succession by great work from the keeper.

The second half started in a similar vein, with Gonzales in superb form, and on 51 minutes he shielded the ball for Webb-Foster to fire over. Two minutes later he took on the responsibility himself and ran on to a through ball down the middle, held off two converging defenders with ease, before he settled himself and fired home with his unfamiliar right. Further chances came the Blue way as they looked to put the game to bed but as if prearranged, the wind got up, the rain started pelting down and Stan threw the kitchen sink at the game. Baker conceded a penalty which was easily despatched and the volume went up several notches. Burrows got his marching orders for his second yellow of the game and as the Blues changed their formation, the Stan attacks came in waves. Clitheroe kept their shape, but even when the home centre forward was given a straight red for kicking substitute Danny Wilkins as he shepherded the ball into the corner, there was still time for the Stan to crash a shot against the woodwork.

When the final whistle came, whilst Clitheroe could claim to have shaded the game in terms of clear cut chances, the home side would rightly rue that bit of quality in the final third and a slice of luck at the end.

Team: Thompson, Burrows, Pugh, Baker, Lancaster, Priestley, Cane, Leigh, Gonzales, Dent, Webb-Foster
Subs (used) Cummings, Wilkins
Sub (not used) Bristol