A night to remember as a record FA Cup crowd at Grounsell Park of 883 witnessed an absorbing cup tie with the Stan failing to reach the 2QR for a second time in their history, 1949 was the last time.
The Stan had 4 players booked, Jay Hornsby, Louis Anderson, Dan Stephenson and Konner Lamb, and Scott Bamborough was red carded in the final minute, whilst the high flying NPL West outfit had 7 booked and Jack Burrows sent off for a second yellow on 76 minutes.
Stan started well with Lamb finding Anderson with his strong shot pushed away by Chris Thompson.
The Blues turned up the pressure with Lee Pugh’s long throws a feature of their attacking play, a back pass from Joe Shepherd almost was intercepted but Tom Flynn managed to clear the danger.
Stan best move of the first half was started by Stephenson and he finished it, firing low and wide.
Shepherd made a great block to deny Reece Webb-Foster on 31 minutes, but 6 minutes later Max Cane slotted the ball through for Webb-Foster to stroke the ball into the far corner with Flynn helpless. 0-1
Flynn however tipped over the bar a long range shot from Burrows. From the corner he made a double save to deny shots from Baker and Dent.
H.T. 0-1
Stan restarted brightly, when Lamb found Anderson but his cross was deflected for a corner. On 47 minutes a great cross from the left found Jordan Watson at the far post but his shot went wide.
Clitheroe doubled their lead on 53 minutes when the dangerous Sefton Gonzales was not stopped by defenders around him with his right foot shot finding the net. 0-2
Matthew Ward replaced Max Cowburn on 57 minutes and instantly made an impression, driving Stan forward. Richie Slaughter went close when he curled his shot just wide. Lamb did well on the right, set up Ward whose low drive went narrowly wide.
On 74 minutes the breakthrough for Stan when Lamb surged into the area and was taken down. Penalty and of course a yellow card. It took quite a few minutes for the spot kick to be taken, putting pressure on Anderson, but he netted comfortably. 1-2
The visitors were then reduced to ten men, and Stan felt this was there opportunity. Hornsby cross headed over by Burn. Watson was substituted by Richie Hoggins and he immediately made an impact, his effort hitting the base of the post with Thompson helpless, Crowd urging Stan on, but there was no equaliser, no scalp of a step 4 side.
Once again Stan left the battle field to warm appreciation from the crowd.
What a pleasure the cup run has been, and those Stan fans who were privileged to be at both games really had a marvellous time, and have marked down Clitheroe as a club who off the field know how to do things the right way.
FT 1-2
Heaton Stannington: Flynn, Burn, Hornsby, Bamborough, Watson (Hoggins 86), Shepherd, Cowburn (Ward 57), Slaughter (C), Anderson, Stephenson, Lamb.
Unused Subs: Lashley, Shell, Esdaille, Taylor.
Goals: Anderson 75.
Yellow Cards: Hornsby, Anderson, Stephenson, Lamb.
Red Cards: Bamborough.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Louis Anderson.
Referee: K. Downey.
Assistants: J. Schofield, T. Lishman.
Attendance: 883.
Brian Pratt.