Clitheroe RBL kick-off with superb win
CLITHEROE could not have asked for a tougher start to the new East Lancashire League season as they were handed an away trip to Belvedere.
The hosts started the brighter and pressed right from the off, playing some neat passing football.
Clitheroe were almost made to pay for their slow start as a Belvedere forward went through one on one, only to see his shot saved by Scriven.
Scriven was called into action again as he tipped a long-range effort onto the bar, and the ball seemed to loop back towards the goal line, only for the keeper to fling himself across goal, palming it away and colliding with the post for his troubles!
This sparked Clitheroe into life, and they started to press and create chances.
First Brunskill turned and shot narrowly wide, before Nelson sent a free kick narrowly over.
At the other end Belvedere kept creating chances, however.
On 20 minutes the deadlock was broken, as some neat play down the right from Aspinwall and Nuttall led to a looping ball into the box.
The ball bounced in front of the keeper and Eglin pounced at the second attempt to make it 1-0.
Belvedere created the majority of the chances, but Clitheroe had a few of their own, and in patches played some nice football, but due to playing up the slope were always going to be up against it in the first half.
Belvedere kept pressing forward at every opportunity, but the back four of Sells, Farquha, Clarke and Hall stood firm, and if they were breached, Scriven in goal was in fine form, making some terrific saves.
Injury to Nuttall just before half-time meant change for Clitheroe as Shields replaced him.
The visitors managed to hold out until half-time, and the first part of the second half drifted away without incident.
Around the 70-minute mark the game opened up as Belvedere pushed to get the equaliser and created several good chances, all of which they squandered.
This in turn left big gaps at the back, and Eglin and Brunskill were causing problems going forward.
On 80 minutes, a corner from Shields was headed just wide by Brunskill.
The game should have been put to bed two minutes later as Farmer, Brunskill and Aspinwall combined to leave Shields with the goal gapin, but his shot was somehow saved.
The last five minutes were a bit of a panic, and just when Belvedere thought they had their equaliser as Scriven was beaten after a scramble in the box, Clarke was on hand to clear off the line.
Somewhat fortunately, Clitheroe hung on with if not convincing a battling performance.
Eglin just managed to pip Scriven to the man-of-the-match.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
