CLITHEROE provided the perfect dress rehearsal for Saturday's FA Vase tie with an important victory against a useful Nantwich side.

On the half hour mark, Nantwich snatched the lead when Neil Baron was shrugged off the ball, and a Nantwich forward turned and fired into the top corner.

Six minutes later the Blues deservedly drew level when a Chris Grimshaw cross to the far post found Paul Mullin unmarked to hit a low spot across the keeper into the bottom corner.

As the half wore on, the game looked likely to end in a draw, but the Blues remembered last Monday's game against Salford, and with nine minutes to go, Jon Riley laid a good ball off for an advancing Chris Grimshaw whose far post cross found Dennis Hill to head home. Then in injury time a Hill cross found Andy Taylor racing in to fire a low shot into the bottom corner.

Great Harwood Town boss will welcome back Graham Sanders for tonight's crunch UniBond First Division Cup semi-final first leg clash away at Lancaster City tonight.

In the UniBond Premier Division Chorley have home advantage for their match against Frickley Athletic, while Accrington Stanley travel away to play Knowsley.

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