CLITHEROE dominated the game from start to finish and will still be wondering how they went out of the FA Cup to a team that only had one shot on goal all game.
The home side had plenty of possession but failed to turn in into goalscoring opportunities and the visitors hit them with a classic sucker punch to earn an unlikely victory.
The Blues should have gone in front after 20 minutes. From a corner on the left the ball fell kindly to Gary Jackson at the far post, but from close range he saw his shot hit the crossbar.
Brandon failed to clear the danger and the ball fell invitingly to Simon Garner on the edge of the penalty area. His low shot was well saved by Waind in the Brandon goal. Lee Cryer shot straight at the keeper when well placed and Jackson saw his shot well saved as Clitheroe ended the first half in the ascendancy.
Straight from the restart Clitheroe almost went in front. A strong run by Paul Stansfield saw him slip the ball to Jackson who was through on goal. The angle was slightly too tight from the Clitheroe striker and his shot came back off the post.
A bizarre moment on 55 minutes almost led to Chris Whittingham breaking the deadlock. His 25-yard effort looked to be of little threat to the goalkeeper until it took a nasty bounce off the pitch. Fortunately for Waind, the ball hit him on the chest and he was able to clear the danger.
On 68 minutes Brandon's first real attempt at goal brought them the winner when a cross from the right was superbly volleyed home by Mark Patterson. Clithero e pushed forward again but were unable to make their possession count, a Russell Clark header being the nearest they came to scoring, but the defenders effort was wide of the post.
Two defeats in two games, after a superb start to the season, will now provide the first real test for Clitheroe, who aim to bounce back when they visit Atherton Collieries tonight.
CLITHEROE...0
BRANDON UNITED...1
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