Darwen 3 Clitheroe 5 IN a magnificent advert for non-league football, Clitheroe outslugged Darwen at The Anchor to establish a two-goal advantage in this Floodlit Trophy first round fixture.

The home side will rue a sequence of first half missed chances that may have put the match beyond even Clitheroe's reach.

Dean McGarry lashed a volley against the bar, Jerome Fitzgerald struck the inside of the post and a Mark Walsh effort rebounded off the far upright.

They did take the lead, however, on 25 minutes when McGarry's pinpoint cross to Mark Walsh was dispatched into the top corner. But a lapse at the back a minute before half time allowed in John Penman who stroked the ball beyond the keeper to secure the equaliser.

Clitheroe pressed strongly at the beginning of the second half and were rewarded with two goals in quick succession from Mick Ward and Andy Darbyshire which made it 3-1.

Darwen responded through Steve Wilkes who narrowed the gap with an excellent finish from the edge of the box.

But the visitors went two in front again when Paul Mullin neatly beat the Darwen keeper.

Back came Darwen when McGarry fired one home from 30 yards.

But in the final dramatic twist, with two minutes remaining, Geoff Smith finished off another well-worked Clitheroe move to leave them two goals to the good when the tie resumes at Shawbridge in two weeks.

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