Clitheroe 2 Darlington 1883 1

SEFTON Gonzalez was spot on for Clitheroe as they came from behind to beat promotion-chasing Darlington 1883 in front of a bumper crowd at Shawbridge.

The Blues recovered from the setback of conceding an early goal to record one of their best wins of the season thanks to strikes from Daniel Brady and Gonzalez.

A crowd of 538 watched Simon Garner’s side inflict a sixth defeat of the season on a side who are battling with Salford City for the Evo-Stik Division One North title.

Darlington got off to the perfect start when David Dowson capitalised on a slip from Roberto Bonaminio to open the scoring in the sixth minute.

The visitors were making all of the early running and Peter Collinge was called in to action to cling on to a header from Stephen Thompson..

Clitheroe should have levelled in the 15th minute but Gonzalez fired straight at Peter Jameson in the Darlington goal.

However, five minutes before the break the Blues were level when Garner’s corner evaded everyone in the area and an unmarked Brady tapped in at the far post.

It was a frantic start to the second half and Darlington came closest to going ahead when captain Leon Scott’s curling effort shaved the upright before Bonaminio made a timely tackle to deny Dowson a clear site of goal.

But Clitheroe were more than holding their own and went ahead on the hour from the penalty spot.

Garner’s centre was handled in the area by a Darlington defender and Gonzalez kept his cool to convert his third spot kick of the season and his 15th goal in total this term.

Back game Darlington and Collinge had to go full stretch to tip a Darlington effort around the post. Danny Morton then came to the rescue with a vital block from another counter attack from the visitors.

Collinge was the busier of the two keepers as he battled to keep the Blues lead intact but the home side had a real let-off when substitute Nathan Cartman missed the target from a yard out.

Darlington continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages but Clitheroe were denied a third when Brady’s thumping header cannoned back off the crossbar. It turned out to be the last action of a thrilling encounter.