CLITHEROE came out on top in an average North West Counties League Division One fixture against lowly Curzon Ashton.

After their impressive midweek League Cup quarter final victory, much was expected from the Blues, but for long periods, especially in the second half, they had to play second fiddle to the visitors.

They started well enough and deservedly went ahead on 18 minutes through a Neil Spencer penalty after he had been tripped in the box.

For the rest of the first half they produced decent enough form until the last third of the pitch where the crosses were poor and time after time, Spencer and Lee Cryer, returning from an ankle injury, were let down with the final ball.

Curzon came out for the second period and had a real go at the home team, but had similar problems and couldn't provide the killer ball into the forwards.

Man of the match Gary Rishton, along with player-manager Lee Sculpher, had their work cut out in the home defence, but they remained calm and intact and when substitute Stuart Todhunter doubled the lead on 87 minutes with a low drive into the corner, the result seemed to be put beyond all doubt.

But the visitors came back and score from a simple tap-in from a shot turned on to the bar by keeper Kris Richens in the final minute, to give Clitheroe an uncomfortable few minutes of injury time, but they held on for the three points.

CLITHEROE...2

CURZON ASHTON...1