CLITHEROE require two wins from their final three games to secure the league title following a comfortable victory over Congleton.

Any pre-match nerves for the Blues were settled early on thanks to a sweet strike from Lee Cryer on 12 minutes, following good play from Gary Jackson.

Jackson held the ball up well inside the area and his pass back to Cryer was fired home.

Clitheroe dominated the game and Matthew Conkie in the Congleton goal had to be alert to save well from Jackson and Martin Aspinwall as the Blues pressed forward.

The second goal arrived on the stroke of half-time courtesy of a Barrie Hart penalty. A Congleton defender handled a cross in the area and Hart smashed in the spot kick.

Goalkeeper Conkie then picked up a needless booking for kicking the ball out of the ground.

Just seconds after the restart Paul Stansfield and Cryer both wasted great opportunities as Congleton managed to scramble the ball away.

Conkie brought a fantastic run by Stansfield to an abrupt end on 55 minutes as the Congleton keeper pulled him down inside the area.

Conkie was sent off for his second booking of the game and Hart again made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Congleton then had a positive 10-minute spell, which saw Scott Williams reduce the arrears on 62 minutes before a rasping Steve McDonald drive secured another crucial victory on 75 minutes.

The Blues travel to Ramsbottom tomorrow night hoping to set up a possible title clincher at home to Newcastle on Saturday.

CLITHEROE...4

CONGLETON TOWN...1