CLITHEROE'S last realistic hopes of collecting some silverware were dashed against UniBond Premier League high fliers Barrow last night.

Instead it is Accrington Stanley who will now face the Cumbrian side in the final at a venue to be decided.

And defeat in the Lancashire Marsden Trophy semi-final clash leaves Lee Sculpher's men with just league pride to play for.

"Obviously we are disappointed with the result but we have no complaints," said Sculpher. "On the night the gulf in league status and class between the two sides was clear.

"They are a very good side and they proved it."

Clitheroe's game-plan had been to try and frustrate the home side and everything was going well until midway through the first half.

Barrow won a free kick out on the right flank and when the ball was swung into the area Grant Holt was first to it and headed home.

Five minutes later the NWCL Division One side were hit by a wonder goal. Sculpher's men conceded a free kick for handball on the edge of the area and Wayne Bullimore chipped the ball over the wall and into the goal off the angle.

"It was a great strike," said Sculpher. "We wouldn't have saved it if we had had three goalkeepers."

Just before the break Clitheroe had a chance to get back into the match. Richard Fogarty beat two defenders and went around the keeper but a Barrow defender got back to take the ball off his toes and force it out for a corner.

After the interval Clitheroe threw caution to the wind in an effort to get back into the game but left themselves open to be hit on the break again.

That happened after 70 minutes when, from a Clitheroe corner, Barrow broke away for Holt to put the game beyond Sculpher's men.

Clitheroe now face a marathon effort of 16 games in the final six weeks of the season.

They are back in action on Thursday night at home to Curzon Ashton.

BARROW...3 CLITHEROE...0