CLITHEROE battled and scraped for a draw at home to Salford, but it has to go down as two points dropped.

With a long way left to go in the season, Steve Parry's side are still very much in with a shout of winning the division, but true title contenders should conceivably be making short work of games like this one, in which the visitors started slowly and were there for the taking.

But a second half lapse by the Blues allowed Salford to sneak in front before a last gasp equaliser saved Clitheroe's blushes.

The home side had the better of the first half and deservedly went in 1-0 up at half time. Barry Hart's free kick midway through the half broke the deadlock, the ball curling over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Salford grabbed an equaliser 25 minutes into the second half after pummelling the home side after the break. Andy Taylor upended an opponent in the area, allowing Steve Eyre to equalise from the spot.

But Clitheroe's minds were elsewhere for most of the second half, as Liam Carr wandered through the denfence on 76 minutes to put his side in front after Chris Richens had parried a shot from long range.

This spurred Clitheroe into life and with Parry bellowing instructions from the sidelines, the home side managed to put some life into their attacks. The reward came in the final minute of play when Steve Denny's shot was parried, only for Lee Sculpher to knock the ball in from close range, to the relief of the home fans.

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