And, following a harsh 2-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Lancaster City, Blues boss Peter Smith will be one of those with superstitious tendancies.

With just 13 minutes of the game played Jonathan Forbes saw red for a reckless challenge which the referee deemed dangerous, before Clitheroe surrendered their 1-0 lead in the final 13 minutes of the game.

When asked about the red card, Smith said: "The ball has run away from him and he's caught the lad. It's a foul worthy of a booking but nothing more. Unfortunately it's a decision that's gone against us and ultimately cost us.

"The Lancaster bench has jumped up and I think the referee has panicked a little bit and sent him off. He was a little bit late in a 50/50 challenge and it's crucified us. It was harsh."

He added: "Sometimes you're just unlucky because we nearly pulled it off. We've matched the league leaders with 10 men and we've shown that we can compete. The players gave their all which I'm delighted with but we've just got to soldier on and bounce back."

Prolific Shawbridge striker Nathan Taylor broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, but the game was turned on its head in the closing stages when Andrew Teague equalised for Lancaster with 13 minutes left, before Michael Stringfellow secured the points in the 81st minute.

Smith, whose side now sits in ninth place but with games in hand on the sides above them, added: "We nearly pulled it off as well. I'm absolutely gutted because the lads have done ever so well and given their all.

"The players can't be faulted at all; they've given everything and deserved something from the game because we've matched them.

"The performance was great and everybody worked their socks off. That was only our third game since Christmas so it does take its toll.

They've scored twice in the last 10 minutes and it was a killer punch for us that we didn't deserve. With 11 men I think we would have gone on to win the game, but I'm happy because there's a lot of positives to take from it."

He added: "There's a lot of twists and turns still to come. We've got to put another good run of results together and then we'll be in with a shout. There's a lot of games to play and teams above us will drop points in those."

Clitheroe will now face Radcliffe Borough at home on Saturday (3 p.m.), before going head-to-head with Leigh Genesis in the semi-final of the Challenge Trophy on Wednesday. Kick-off for this fixture is at 7-30 p.m. at the LFA Headquarters in Leyland.

Smith, who has signed Simon Garner, son of Clitheroe chairman Carl, from FC United, said: "Simon will be a great acquisition for us and we've done well to get him here. He's a versatile player who can slot in as a sweeper, left back, winger or central midfielder, which, with suspensions and injuries cropping up, will help us out in the final run-in.

"We've got two games coming up now that we obviously want to win," added Smith.

"It would be a huge buzz for the whole club if we reached the final of the Challenge Trophy and it's a game we can win as well. It would be great for the supporters to come along both on Saturday and Wednesday to get behind the lads especially with the chance to play at the Reebok Stadium up for grabs."