CLITHEROE 4 TAUNTON 3 (agg 4-8)

CLITHEROE went on "Mission: Impossible" and very nearly cracked it!

The Ribble Valley outfit went within a whisker of staging one of the greatest comebacks in knockout football history in a thrill-a-minute FA Vase clash with Taunton on Saturday.

Trailing 5-0 from the first leg, Clitheroe went THREE up inside the first 19 minutes to send the crowd of around 800 into a frenzy.

The opposition keeper had gone off injured after the secoond goal went in but the five minute stoppage didn't stop the Blues, who continued to power forward with a 3-3-4 all-out attack formation.

The first-choice keeper had been beaten both times he was tested but the reserve keeper ironically had a better game, but could do nothing about the third goal from Martin Aspinwall.

As the Blues tired toward the end of the first half -- understandable after the pace they started at-- Taunton scored two breakaway goals just before half time.

Neil Spencer, Mark Stewart and Aspinwall were the Clitheroe goal heroes before West and Fields pulled a couple back.

Aspinwall's second five minutes after the restart gave renewed hope and the eager home strikers roared forward. Every outfield player had a shot at goal as Taunton were left to cling on desperately.

There were three efforts cleared off the line before Clitheroe finally ran out of steam and Parker grabbed another for Taunton to give the scoreline an unfair look.

Beaten Clitheroe boss Dave Burgess said: "We were magnificent; in the first half we were like a runaway train and I think they wondered what had hit them.

"For a time it was like a pinball machine in their penalty area and although we finally went out, we did so with our heads held high.

"Obviously it was disappointing to get so close and not get to the final but no one who played in or watched that game on Saturday could have anything but satisfaction. It was a wonderful effort and I was proud of every one of them."