FOUR goals in the last 10 minutes, two penalties and a sending off and this game was certainly not low on incident!

But it was Clitheroe who deservedly emerged victorious to hoist themselves up to seventh spot in the NWCL First Division.

The Ribble Valley outfit were coasting after going three up and the two home goals, scored in the final three minutes, gave a rather misleading look to the scoreline.

"We had the game in the bag by the time Skelmersdale scored their goals and I was very pleased with the manner of our performance," said delighted player-manager Lee Sculpher.

"They are a big and physical side and we coped well with that and managed to get the ball down and play which was doubly pleasing."

Clitheroe were ahead after just five minutes when Andy Cowking followed up to score after a header from Neil Spencer had been pushed away.

Andy Taylor was brought down in full flight to enable Mark Stewart to calmly convert a penalty on 80 minutes, before three minutes later Cowking was again in the right place at the right time to stab home a free kick from Sculpher.

Clitheroe relaxed in a bizarre finale and a goal from John McAllister (88) suddenly gave Skelmersdale new life.

Chris Whittingham was then sent off in injury time for deliberate handball - an offence which was further punished when Stuart Rudd scored from the resulting spot kick.

"It was a crazy end to a game we had dominated," added Sculpher. "But we did very well overall, probably as good as we have played since I took charge."

SKELMERSDALE...2 CLITHEROE...3

FLEETWOOD are the visitors to Clitheroe tomorrow night.