Clitheroe surrendered a half-time lead as their five-match winning streak came to an end against Cammell Laird at the Kirklands Stadium.

A late winner from substitute Aaron Bowen secured the points for Laird after a Jamie Henders penalty dragged the home side level at the beginning of the second period.

Goals from Danny Bell and Will James towards the end of the first-half had earlier seen Clitheroe overturn Freddie Potter’s early strike.

Paul Moore’s side were missing regular defenders Lee Pugh and Rob Bodie and the Blues’ makeshift backline was exposed after six minutes.

Potter applied the finish at the back post after Lee Atherton flicked on an inswinging Joe Evans free-kick from the left.

The Blues rallied in the final stages of the half with Bell equalising on 39 minutes as he fired home a low Daley Woods cross from the right.

Moments before the interval, Clitheroe took the lead as James ran onto Chris Mason’s pass just inside the Cammell Laird half before outpacing the home defence and finishing smartly.

However, five minutes into the second-half the hosts restored parity as Henders scored his tenth league goal of the season from the penalty spot following a foul on Dan O’Brien.

Woods fired a shot across goal and narrowly wide of the far post while substitute Scott Bakkor looked lively for the visitors after replacing goalscorer Bell.

With the match drifting towards a draw and the spoils being shared, Potter’s cross from the right was headed past Hakan Burton by Bowen.

This was only the Blues’ third league defeat of the season and Paul Moore’s side drop to third in Evo-Stik League Division (One) North.

  • Chorley’s match at Buxton in Evo-Stik League Premier Division was postponed due to a frozen pitch