Clitheroe 1 - Garforth Town 2

9.2.2008

Garforth returned to winning form in rip-roaring fashion at the Shawbridge Stadium, overcoming Clitheroe FC at the Lancastrians home in a hot tempered fixture. Town surrendered the early lead they claimed through Luis de Melo, but continued to pressurise the home defence until a neat flicked finish from Greg Kelly claimed the all important three points for the Yorkshiremen.

Clitheroe immediately tested the defensive qualities of the Williams brother’s and Brett Renshaw with some speculative high through balls, but the young men showed their relative experience early, and Garforth took control. One of Clitheroe’s many hatchet men conceded a fourth minute free kick on the far left, which was directed by Chris Brown into the path of de Melo. The new recruit from Spain assuredly slotted the ball back across goal into the lower right hand corner, a first-time finish with aplomb.

The early lead served to rile sections of Clitheroe’s support, who incessantly bellowed at their team to respond. After more high balls, a Clitheroe cross evaded all Town defenders but the striker failed to find the target, the ball narrowly flying over. On the twenty minute mark, a carbon copy attack resulted in the same striker heading past the returning Carl Spratt, only for his own team-mate to block on the goal line. The grateful Town duly cleared.

Soon after, a marauding Clitheroe midfielder was positioning himself to score when Duncan Williams gained possession with a crunching tackle. The versatile Brazilian Soccer School graduate played the ball downfield to de Melo, who when in acres of space and with two Town attackers in support was brought down in an atrocious tackle, one of many. The offender went unpunished, yet Town were denied a glorious chance to further enhance their lead.

Minutes later, an intelligent George Williams cross-field pass found de Melo in similar space, with exactly the same ugly outcome. The unsporting nature of Clitheroe surface in these moments of blatant cynicism.

Clitheroe took the ascendancy in the ensuing five minutes, and only stout defensive exertion from the Garforth men prevented the Lancastrians from scoring. With ten minutes left to play in the half, the ball was cleared high towards de Melo, whose marker’s high foot caught the Town attacker flush in the face. The injury sustained would constitute a replacement player being brought on, yet again the offender escaped punishment. Greg Kelly won the ball soon after, but was deemed to have used unnecessary force and was booked, after some disgraceful Clitheroe fouls.

Debutant Patrice Liberg was proving his defensive capabilities, yet conceded a free kick on the edge of the box for manhandling the home striker and a fracas almost ensued. The ill-tempered fixture was in serious danger of boiling over, and one was relieved to hear the half-time whistle from the incompetent referee.

Garforth began the second half much the stronger side, constantly probing and piercing the Clitheroe back line. Kelly was put through on three occasions by the industrious Mark Piper, but perhaps mindful of the booking already sustained was unwilling the overtly challenge the alert onrushing goalkeeper, who thrice saved his team. One such attack was followed by the goalkeeper throwing the ball to a centre circle placed midfielder, who in turn released Chris Lomax with a ball down the right channel. With Liberg mistiming his lunge, Lomax coolly slotted past Spratt to give the home side an unfair equality with the visitors.

Shortly after the hour mark, Piper ran out from defence on the right wing into the expanse of space, before cutting inside and directing the ball into the path of Greg Kelly’s run. The Town man positioned to shoot, but unfortunately mis-hit his shot, to the delight of the home support, who gave a rousing chorus of ‘Lancashire, la la la.’ The vocal visitors responded with calls for various counties, including Somerset, Staffordshire and Sussex. Not for the lispers.

Piper would fiercely tackle the niggling number 3 Clitheroe full back, who slid into the advertising hoardings. The infuriated, diminutive Lancastrian responded with aggression which, surprisingly, went unpunished. An episode of ‘handbags’ was followed by a free kick being taken by the same full back, who decided to reveal himself to the away support. The way in which this player conducted himself throughout the game was only overshadowed by the behaviour of the home supporters, and the fact that he went unchecked was a testament to the ineptitude of the officiating.

Garforth remained hungry for a winner, which eventually came with another combination between Kelly and Piper. A goal kick was headed on to the BSS Southampton winger, who committed the defender before unselfishly squaring the decisive through ball to Greg. Kelly approached the Clitheroe keeper before his deftly flicked finish found the bottom left corner of the goal. Town were back on course for that long awaited win.

With eight minutes left, a high curled free kick from Duncan was met by a towering Liberg header, which narrowly went over. A minute later, a fiercely struck yet mis-hit cross was goal-bound at the near post, but Spratt managed to tip the ball over. A volleyed shot seemed destined for that same top corner in the dying seconds, but Spratt again produced a spectacular save to send the loyal traveller’s home happy. The Garforth players applauded their support at the end, as the passing Clitheroe ‘fans’ inevitably disgraced themselves, but their abusive behaviour did not dampen the enjoyment of watching Town win, and claim the much needed maximum points in a hostile ground.