Clitheroe 1 v 0 Marine (Pre-Season Friendly)
Clitheroe Football Club returned to Shawbridge this weekend to face Marine Football Club after a mixed start to their pre-season campaign following defeat at home to an Accrington Stanley U23 and victory on the road at Barnoldswick Town in a midweek fixture. Clitheroe had a number of players missing from game and with temperatures soaring it will have been a good test for the players fitness.
This was the visitors second match of pre-season having faced Vauxhall Motors Football Club the previous weekend which they won 3-2. Once again manager Neil Young fielded the usual mix of first team players, U23s, and trialists.
The only goal of the game came after just six minutes, as a ball to the back-post from the Clitheroe right saw young right-back Ben Jones attempt to divert the ball behind for a corner. Unfortunately for the Mariners, Jones met the ball sweetly on the half-volley to crash the ball into the roof of the net.
Other than that indiscretion, Jones gave a good account, combining well with Trialist A on the right, whilst the centre-half pairing of Dean Winnard and Josh Wardle limited the influence of home skipper Gonzales.
The Mariners almost equalised just after the half-hour, as from a free-kick Winnard’s header found Wardle whose low ball across the box was flicked cheekily towards goal by Mo Touray, but trickled the wrong side of the post.
The visitors had a chance to draw level just after the water break as Lucas Weir’s free-kick from distance bounced in font of Thompson in the Clitheroe goal, but the keeper was able to collect the ball comfortably.
Clitheroe should have extended their lead just before the break, when a cross from the left wing to the back post was headed a yard wide by Clitheroe player-manager Billy Priestley, to leave the half-time score 1-0.
The visitors should have drawn level early in the second-half, when a Mark Howarth’s header found Wardle but the former Witton Albion man sent a volley over Thompson’s crossbar when he should have hit the target.
Marine Football Club again went close as Trialist B showed skill to beat his man and drive at goal, his effort being parried by the ‘keeper before Luke Clark’s follow-up was blocked on the line by Billy Priestley. Trialist A picked up the loose ball but he too was denied by a last-ditch block as the visitors were denied an equaliser.
Clitheroe almost doubled their advantage ten minutes from time as a loose pass from Winnard found Leigh who slipped the ball through to a home Trialist, however substitute stopper Germano Mendes spared Winnard’s blushes with a good block, to leave the full time score 1-0.
Match Details
Clitheroe – Thompson, Jordan, Sloane, Baker, Pugh, Priestley, Trialist, Richmond, Gozales, Leigh, Edwards (Subs) Bristol, Cummings, Turner, Byron, Wilkins, Brown
Marine – Passant, B.Jones, Smith, Howarth, Winnard, Wardle, Trialist A, A.Doyle, Touray, Weir, C.Doyle (Subs) T.Jones, Trialist B, Clarke, Trialist C, Trialist D
Goals – (Clitheroe) Jones (o.g)
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