Clitheroe 13 Cheadle 0

CLITHEROE brought a whole new meaning to the football phrase, "bouncing back" as they went goal crazy to crush luckless Cheadle last night.

Clitheroe committee men were left to thumb through the record books after a lucky 13 had given the Ribble Valley outfit their biggest win for at least 60 years.

Clitheroe smashed 11 goals in 38 amazing second half minutes and the only disappointment on a wonderful night was the crowd figure of around 100.

Neil Spencer, who went on to get a hat trick, set the ball rolling after five minutes and six minutes later Dennis Hill added a second.

The supporters sat back for a goal feast, but, remarkably, Clitheroe were unable to force another goal before half time and Cheadle went in still believing they had a chance of taking something from the game.

How wrong they were!

On the 50th minute Spencer found a route to goal number three and the floodgates opened.

Chris Whittingham (53), Mark Stewart (57 pen, 61 pen, 82), Spencer's hat trick strike (64), Barry Hart (69), an own goal (74), Gary Jackson (85) and Lee Cryer (88) all joined in the fun.

It was an amazing display considering Clitheroe went into the game still smarting from the disappointment of a semi-final exit from the FA Vase on Saturday.

Cheadle fielded a young and inexperienced team and, quite frankly, they were totally overrun in the second half.

What a pity so few people turned up to witness one of the true glory nights in local non-league football history.

Manager Dave Burgess said: "It was just amazing and we believe it stands as a record win for the club.

"One guy said afterwards the he had been coming on since the 1930s and the biggest he could remember was 12-0. Someone else thinks its equals the highest ever but one thing's for certain the record books are going to take a bit of checking.

"We missed an open goal after just nine seconds and I think our keeper touched the ball only three times all night.

"There were some good goals among the two, including the own goal! But the pick was probably Mark Stewart's hat trick goal when he raced forward from the back, skipped round their keeper and slotted the ball home.

"I went in to sympathise with the Cheadle lads afterwards and it was difficult to know what to say to them. Personally, I have never been involved in anything like that before either as a player or as a manager.

"Unfortunately you only get three points for it but to have only 100 people on the ground to watch it was disappointing considering the season we're having. It sometimes leaves you wondering if it's all worth it.

Clitheroe are at home to Fleetwood Freeport tomorrow night in the NWCL Division One, kick off 7.45pm.