Clitheroe preserve faultless start A LATE strike by Clitheroe's Martin Aspinwall preserved their 100 per cent record and inflicted Ramsbottom's first home league defeat since April 1999.

With just under 20 minutes left, Aspinwall received the ball in acres of space and made no mistake with a low cross shot from 12 yards.

Until then, there had been little to separate the sides in a hard-fought derby.

Brierley had a header disallowed after defender Mike Smith climbed all over a Clitheroe defender as he headed back across the goal.

On 32 minutes Ramsbottom had Keith Neild to thank as the big keeper made a great save from Neil Spencer, who really should have scored when he latched onto a misplaced pass and ran clear of the Ramsbottom defence.

Three minutes into the second half Ramsbottom lost skipper Warren Brierley with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, forcing a re-organisation of their back three. From this point the home side looked less secure and Clitheroe enjoyed their best spell of the game.