Goole 1 Clitheroe 2 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Goole 1 Clitheroe 2

8:03am Monday 14th January 2013 in Sport

MARCUS Calvert scored what ultimately proved the winner as Clitheroe returned home with maximum points after completing a league double over Goole.

The Blues appeared comfortable in the Evo-Stik First Division North fixture once Calvert added to Simon Nangle’s early opener just after half time.

But a James Booker penalty ensured a nervy final 20 minutes.

The game was scarcely two minutes old when Nangle thumped a trademark 25-yard free kick over the wall and past the despairing dive of Goole keeper Neal May.

Moments later the lead was almost doubled as Danny Mahoney’s smart pass found Connor Smith in the box, only for the midfielder to be denied by May.

Paul Moore’s side played some neat football on a difficult surface in the opening period, while the hosts were forced into major reorganisation – using all three substitutions before half time.

Although mainly half-chances, Clitheroe continued to carve out the better opportunities as the half wore on and Calvert fired over after being teed up by Mark Buchan.

In the final minute of the half, Buchan was again the provider as Calvert latched on to the former Greenock Morton forward’s pass but failed to hit the target.

Calvert though was not to be denied and two minutes after the restart he had his goal. The 23-year-old – making his first league start since August – applied a close range finish to Buchan’s cross from the right to score his fourth goal of the campaign.

Goole came incredibly close to pulling a goal back on the hour mark as Booker’s shot from range rebounded off the underside of the crossbar before being cleared by Jack Higgins.

A minute later, Law headed a right-wing free kick wide before the arrears were halved on 68 minutes as a dubious penalty was awarded for a foul on substitute Dean Sidebottom.

Booker confidently dispatched the spot kick to spark a frantic finale, which Clitheroe will be relieved to have survived with their lead intact.

Derry Robson’s curling effort after a goalmouth scramble struck a post with quarter of an hour remaining, before Burton did well to tip over a powerful drive from Mark Baggaley.

From the resulting Booker corner, Sam Colbear’s flicked effort trickled wide of the post before Goole’s final chance fell to Booker, whose shot missed the target.

Just prior to the final whistle, Louis Edwards came close to adding a third for Clitheroe, but after winning the ball on halfway and advancing saw his shot fly wide.

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