LEE Sculpher's unbeaten run since taking charge at Clitheroe came to an end last night at Curzon Ashton.

But the Blues player-boss believes his side were unlucky not to have picked up at least a point.

"It was a game we should never have lost," said Sculpher, who had guided Clitheroe to the top of the North West Counties League before last night.

"We had the chances but the ball just wouldn't go in for us."

The visitors could have been three up inside the first 10 minutes as they laid siege to the Curzon Ashton goal.

But the home side broke out of their own half on 25 minutes and a cross from the left was mis-hit for the only goal of the game.

Clitheroe went back on the offensive and Neil Spencer and Chris Whittigham were both thwarted by the hosts' keeper.

"He had one of those nights," said Sculpher. "He dropped every cross but somehow recovered to make a save.

"On another night we would probably have scored four or five but as the game went on you could tell it just wasn't going to happen for us."

The Blues are without a game on Saturday when most North West Counties sides are in FA Vase First Round action. Clitheroe, who reached the semi-final of the competition last year, do not enter this year's contest until a later round.

They face title rivals Salford at Shawbridge next Tuesday in NWCL Division One.

RESULT: CURZON ASHTON...1 CLITHEROE...0