PRESCOT CABLES 0 CLITHEROE 2 (From St Helens Star)

PRESCOT CABLES 0 CLITHEROE 2

8:20am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

 Prescot Cables were defeated by Clitheroe at Hope Street in a game played on a pitch saturated by heavy rain. Both teams struggled in the heavy conditions to control the ball and pass it accurately.

Cables manager Dave Powell kept faith with the same side that had drawn with Trafford in mid week.

Clitheroe kicked off playing towards the Hope Street End.

It was Clitheroe who created the first opportunity after 14 minutes when James went down the right and sent Mason clear who rounded Cables keeper Adam Reid only for his cross across the goal mouth to be cleared by the Cables defence. Canning then linked up with Nangle and Mason to set up Dykes who dragged his shot wide of the post for Clitheroe.

On 27 minutes some nice play between Myler and Dawson set up Bathurst who shot wide. Gratton then intercepted a pass from Clitheroe’s Nangle but he was unable to get away from the Clitheroe defence and was tackled in possession.

On 34 minutes Canning received a pass from James and his cross into the penalty area found Smalley whose shot was blocked.

Cables were then awarded a free kick 25 yards out taken by Dawson which was cleared by the Clitheroe defence. A cross by Gratton intended for Dawson at the far post was headed clear by a Clitheroe defender. Dawson then fed Myler inside the penalty area whose shot was blocked for a corner.

The corner taken by Dempsey was headed clear by Smalley. Clitheroe had a corner just before halftime taken by Birchall to Mahoney whose cross was headed across goal by Higgins and cleared by the Cables defence.

The second half started with Cables winning a free kick taken by Dempsey which was cleared as far as Sean Myler who fired wide from outside the box. Clitheroe then had two opportunities Dykes firing wide and Nangle firing wide from Canning’s pass. A long range effort from Jack Webb flew over the Clitheroe bar. Cables then made their first substitution Hollett replacing Shinks.

From a corner taken by Pugh which was cleared to the edge of the penalty area, Mahoney shot narrowly wide for Clitheroe. Cable’s then had a spell of pressure. A cross to the far post by Benn for Gratton was taken by Clitheroe keeper Burton. Benn then linked up down the right with Myler whose cross was taken by Burton.

Clitheroe took the lead on 60 minutes when skipper Lee Pugh’s perfectly delivered free kick was met at the far post by Smalley who headed home. Cables made their second substitution Edwards replacing Gratton. Clitheroe almost increased their lead on 65 minutes when Mahoney put Nangle through on goal only for Reid to save with his legs.

On 67 minutes, Cables were reduced to ten men when after an altercation between Pugh and Evans, Evans was shown a red card for a head butt. Clitheroe scored their second goal on 73 minutes when after a nice one-two between Birchall and Mason, Mason produced a deft finish with a curling right foot shot into the top corner of the net. Webb had another long range effort for Cables which went over the bar. Cables made their final substitution, Carl Furlong replacing Jon Bathurst.

Cables Jack Webb then had a shot saved by Clitheroe keeper Burton with his legs. Carl Furlong was booked for disputing an off side decision, then Dawson had a shot blocked by Burton for a corner. As the game drew to a close, Cables keeper Adam Reid made a trio of fine saves denying Kusaloka, Bell and Smalley.

Prescot Cables: Reid, Shinks, Dempsey, Murphy, Benn, Webb, Myler, Evans, Dawson, Bathurst, Gratton. Substitutes: Hollett, Jeffries, Wall, Edwards, Furlong.

Clitheroe: Burton, Smalley, Pugh, James, Higgins, Birchall, Nangle, Mahoney, Canning, Mason, Dykes. Substitutes: Dent, Kusaloka, Bell.