Clitheroe FC 1, FCUM 1 - MATCH ABANDONED

FLOODLIGHT FAILURE
By Adrian Capstick

FLOODLIGHT failure brought Clitheroe's home game against FC United of Manchester to a premature end on Tuesday night.

With just under 60 minutes played of this competitive fixture and over 900 fans in attendance, half the lights in the ground went out when the Blues had looked keen for their first league victory of the season.

United took the lead on 37 minutes with a well-taken strike by Rory Patterson, before Craig Sargeson equalised just before break.

The Bury-based side were a threat throughout, very quick on the attack and dangerous on the counter, but the Blues had the most chances of the first half thanks to a sprightly Peter Smith.

The Clitheroe player-manager put players half his age in the shade, belying his 42 years to push the side forward at every opportunity, using the right wing to full advantage.

Clitheroe's Chris Ward pinged a header over the bar when Smith got the better of left back Shaun Roscoe.

And Ward had a good shout for a penalty when he turned right back Matty Taylor and was tripped in the box only to see it waved away.

Patterson and Jerome Wright proved tricky in the United attack, connected in a flowing move with Nicky Platt that saw the former rifle past James Mann.

Clitheroe's equaliser came courtesy of some Joel Byrom trickery, the forward weaving his way past two challenges only to be intercepted by Taylor, the ball spilled, and Sargeson was at hand to lap up a shot past Sam Ashton.

But at 9 p.m. the lights went out, leaving the result very much in the balance.

Clitheroe: Mann, Koslowski, Clarke, Fletcher, Anderson, McKenna, Smith, P. Osbourne, Ward, Byrom, Sargeson. Subs: Daniels, Stansfield, Jackson.

Last Updated: 11 September 2007 10:44 PM