By Georgia Cook
After an encouraging pre-season, it was a warm and sunny day down at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium all set for the first game of the season. Brighouse got off to a flying start as Haigh put a good ball into Church but it was blocked and out for a corner it went. Just a minute later it was Church that was caught up in the action once again when a corner by Grant allowed him to do a bullet header which unfortunately went just over.
It was Joe Jagger who got the next chance in the game when a bad foul on Haigh by Stopforth lead to a free kick on the halfway line with Jagger heading it wide from the edge of the box. Soon after, a miskick by Beeden lead to Clitheroe striker Adams taking a touch on the ball but was unable to hold his run and slipped on the ball.
Clitheroe’s first chance of the game came in the 8th minute when Feeney played a ball into Adams but he was caught offside. But Church was quick to respond as a run into the box gave him the chance to have a shot that hit the side post, very unlucky to not get anything from it.
Just a few minutes later a pass back to Smith by Beeden lead to Adams putting the pressure on in the box, tackling him and winning the ball however with too much power on the ball it went out for a goal kick. Worrying moments for Brighouse Town.
Jack Tinker had his first chance of the game when Grant crossed it into the box and Harris took a touch and passed it to him bur once again the chance was put wide. But now Clitheroe were starting to get into the game and were looking very threatening.
After a ball by Jagger in the 25th minute to Church a deadly cross by him was laid on a plate for a goal but no one was in the box to finish the job and kept the score line at 0-0. Clitheroe began to be very attacking now and were really getting into the game.
A bad challenge by Moncreiffe on Javelle Clarke in the 32nd lead to the first yellow card of the game and unfortunately for him he was subbed straight off and it was Conor Gaul who was the replacement. 5 minutes later a good run through midfield by Haigh and good link up play with Boyle excited the Brighouse Town fans but nothing was able to come from it.
Half time Brighouse Town 0 Clitheroe FC 0.
On the resumption after half time, Clarke was booked for what looked a 50/50 challenge which looked a very harsh yellow.
Clitheroe got off to a good start when in three minutes into the second half Clitheroe captain Billy Priestley headed the ball just wide of the net.
Another harsh decision from the referee when Haigh was booked after a foul on Lonsdale which didn’t look to be as dangerous as what some players were trying to make out. A free kick on the edge of the box that went just over the bar.
In the 54th minute it was youngster Javelle Clarke who led the attack down the right and was so unlucky to not get anything from it. Clarke was a standout player today and a huge threat for the home side the future is looking promising for him. Just two minutes later it was a surprise substitution with him off and Eli Hey on.
A couple of minutes later a beautifully controlled ball by Boyle and an even better cross into the box allowed hero of the hour Eddie Church to take the lead in the game in the 58thminute with a bullet header firing the home side in front with a goal to nil. Brighouse were unlucky to not get a second when a ball in by Jagger had too much power for Hey to take a controlled touch and fired it over the bar instead.
A bad challenge by Clitheroe’s number 8 Gary Stopforth on left back Jack Tinker forced referee Henry Naylor to award yet another yellow card to the game.
Brighouse had another chance in the 67th minute when a beautiful bit of midfield play between Wilkinson and Haigh allowed Boyle to get upfront but unfortunately when passed the ball he put it well wide of the net.
The first red card came of the game when midfielder Tom Haigh was awarded his second yellow after another challenge this time on Stopforth. Boyle was then quickly substitutedwith Fishley coming on.
In the 70th a free kick by Clitheroe’s Cole Lonsdale allowed captain Billy Priestley to get the equaliser for the away side and make the game stand at 1-1.
Clitheroe were on the attack just minutes later when a free kick on the half way line looked like it was going to go in the top right corner but keeper Matt Smith was able to tip it over the bar and excellent save. Smith kept Brighouse in the game in the second half.
Substitute Sorhaindo made a good run through the midfield but on the way was clipped many a time by Gaul which lead to a yellow card for him when nothing came from the run.
Utter devastation was caused for Brighouse in the 88th minute when a ball into the box allowed many attempts on goal and many blocks but it was captain Priestley who managed to grab the second and winning goal for the away side. A messy goal to concede.
Full time Brighouse Town 1 Clitheroe FC 2
