CLITHEROE are making a habit of leaving it late but player-boss Lee Sculpher won't mind because they are also making a habit of winning.

The Blues made it nine wins from Sculpher's 11-game reign for the NWCL Division One club with a come from behind victory at Shawbridge last night.

They were forced to wait for a winner, which was supplied three minutes from time when Neil Spencer headed home a Mark Stuart left wing cross for his second of the night.

"We left it late again but I was pleased with the way we went about the task," said Sculpher. "Even when we were 1-0 down we never panicked and we got the job done in the end."

Clitheroe struggled to take control in a lacklustre first half, but did come close when first Carl Greenwood forced a good save from the visitors' keeper and a Stuart free kick eluded everyone and hit a post.

But five minutes before the break the visitors took a surprise lead when a cross struck a Clitheroe defender in a penalty area melee.

"I don't know who had the last touch, there were four of our defenders in there at the time and they collided as they went for the ball and it went in," said the boss. And just before the break the visitors were reduced to 10 men after the referee took exception to what one Atherton player shouted at him.

After the break Clitheroe's passing improved and they took control.

The equaliser duly arrived after 65 minutes from a Spencer volley and though he later had an effort ruled out for offside, Spencer managed to grab the winner in the closing stages.

RESULT: CLITHEROE...2 ATHERTON COLLS...1