The Stan were on the long road to Wembley, via Lancashire, and thanks to a great team performance & resolve deservedly remain so & are in Monday’s 2nd Qualifying Round draw for the 1st time since 1949. There were 2 changes from Wednesday’s 5-1 league win with Stephenson & Anderson replacing Esdaille and Bamborough. The Stan Army convoy consisted of 2 coaches & a number of cars & they were given a warm welcome at picturesque Shawbridge.

Both teams started trying to attack although they cancelled each other out until the 5th minute when Clitheroe headed wide although there was also a foul on a Stan defender. 2 minutes later Hopper supplied Lamb but he was judged to be off side. In 10 minutes there was bad news for the Stan when Hopper won a loose ball & ran into the box but pulled something & had to be replaced by Cowburn.

In 18 minutes Stephenson sent a great long ball to Lamb but the home keeper got out to kick it clear. There was then another long ball to Lamb but again the keeper got out to clear. With the sides relatively even & with not much threat at either end, Clitheroe surprisingly took the lead in 22 minutes. A free kick into the Stan box was initially headed clear by a Stan player then headed into the net by Priestly.

The Stan attacked immediately but it was cleared. There were a few quieter minutes before, in 27 minutes, Evans had to clear from in front of the Stan goal & a minute later Burn had to clear off the line. There were a number of heavy tackles from the home side’s Dent but the Stan carried on trying to attack but being blocked by the home defence.

Clitheroe didn’t attack again until the 37th minute then it was back to the Stan with the best chance coming in 39 minutes when, after 2 corners had been cleared, the advancing Stephenson passed towards Anderson at the far post but he could not connect cleanly. In 42 minutes the home keeper caught the ball when mishit by a defender from a corner. In the 45th minute, Evans blocked on the line but after the Clitheroe goal the Stan had most of the ball but lacked the final touch in a relatively uneventful 1st half.

The Stan did not deserve to be behind at half time & started the 2nd half with their heads still high. The 1st 5 minutes though saw continuous pressure from Clitheroe as they sought a 2nd goal. An attack was cleared in the 46th minute before the ball was sent back into the Stan box but was missed by everyone. 3 minutes later they hit the back post before the ball was partially cleared then headed wide.

The Stan got back on the attack in 52 minutes when a free kick into the box was initially headed clear before Cowburn shot just wide from outside the box. The Stan kept pressing & an Anderson header from a corner in 56 minutes was cleared. It was mainly Stan now although Purvis had to get down to save in 59 minutes. The pressure paid off though a minute later when Cowburn chipped a long ball over the home defence to the advancing Burn who confidently shot into the net to deservedly get an equaliser for the Stan.

There was then a quieter period although with some Clitheroe attacks & the next clear Stan effort came in 71 minutes when a Lamb long ball to Anderson saw him pass to Cowburn who shot over. Purvis then had to catch & soon after Shepherd cleared as both teams sought an equaliser although were thwarted by the opposing defences. Clitheroe shot wide in 78 minutes & Evans tried a speculative long shot 3 minutes later which went just wide.

The Stan had a great chance to win the match in 83 minutes when a long ball to Stephenson saw him with only the keeper to beat but he shot right at him. Soon after Purvis made a great save from a header. From the resulting corner, Clitheroe shot just wide. In 88 minutes, the home side were given an undeserved free kick which beat the wall but was expertly saved by Purvis.

Into 3 minutes added time & Burn tried a speculative long shot which the keeper caught. Clitheroe then had a free kick into the Stan box that was eventually cleared. Just before the referee eventually blew his whistle, Clitheroe had another free kick just outside the Stan box which was headed down by a home player just in front of goal but Purvis blocked then cleared. After the final whistle, the team then went over to the far corner to applaud the delighted Stan fans.

Both teams were evenly matched & either could have won although the Stan were the stronger team after they equalised. The Stan had to work hard against strong opposition, but any neutrals watching would not have known that Clitheroe were in a league above their Geordie opponents as they play in the Northern Premier League West Division. The 2 sides will now have to take on each other again on Wednesday night in the replay at Grounsell Park which the Stan know they can win after their performance in this match.

Heaton Stannington: Purvis, Evans, Hornsby, Burn, Watson, Shepherd, Hopper (Cowburn 11), Slaughter (C), Anderson, Stephenson (Taylor 84), Lamb (Ward 75).

Unused Subs: Flynn, Bamborough, Shell, Ward, Taylor.

Goals: Burn 60.

Supporters Man Of The Match: Andrew Burn.

Referee: Simon Robinson.

Attendance: 518.

Venue: 49-51 Shawbridge St, Clitheroe, Lancashire. BB7 1LZ.

Kevin Mochrie