Clitheroe emerged victorious against in-form Congleton with an outstanding Ben Woods free kick and a neat Sefton Gonzales finish on his return to the Loom Loft Stadium.
The Blues started the game with an early chance that fell to Sam Olawumi after Josh Briggs whipped a cross towards the wing back who couldn’t quite reach it in the 13th minute.
Woods had a wild attempt for Clitheroe as he struck the ball first time from the edge of the area but it didn’t trouble Dave Parton as it flew over the bar in the 22nd minute.
Congleton responded with a good effort from Max McCarthy in the 37th minute when the striker fired a venomous shot goalwards but Zac Hadi parried it clear.
McCarthy had an even better chance to score just two minutes later in the 39th minute after when he went one on one with Hadi but the towering goalkeeper made an excellent tackle to keep the score level.
Clitheroe had a golden opportunity to take the lead themselves just before the half when debutant Harry Scarborough laid off Briggs’ for a powerful shot that was saved by Parton at his near post in stoppage time.
Sean McConvilles’s men eventually broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through a well-placed Woods free kick that was dipped over the wall and beyond the reach of Parton in the top right corner.
Things got worse for Congleton as they were then reduced to 10 men after Parton was sent off after a physical altercation with Olawumi in the 68th minute.
The home side capitalised on the man advantage and put the game to bed in the 95th minute when Gonzales got in behind the Congleton defence on the counter attack before tucking it home to make it 2-0.
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