CLITHEROE completed a league double over Witton Albion on Saturday, punishing their hosts’ sloppy defending.

They took the lead inside 60 seconds, when Michael Hampson squeezed a shot past goalkeeper Ryan Neild from a narrow angle.

A second might have followed shortly afterwards, only for Sefton Gonzales’ shot on the turn to strike an upright.

However Carl Macauley’s men drew level after quarter of an hour, when Tom Owens met Danny Andrews’ deep free kick with a header that looped over stranded custodian Steve James.

Clitheroe cursed their luck again when Danny Brady hooked an attempt against the woodwork following a corner, while James parried Andrews’ effort when he shot directly from another set-piece.

The duo came face-to-face again before the break, when the goalkeeper saved smartly the attacker’s strike.

Blues restored their lead on 55 minutes, when Brady – left unmarked – converted an corner from close range.

Gonzales then prompted Neild to divert his shot for a corner.

The visitors did score a third goal their dominance deserved, this time when Kurt Willoughby’s free kick was helped into the net by Neild.

Andrews converted a penalty, his 20th goal in Division One North this term, after substitute Wes Benjamin nudged over fellow replacement Joe Newton to halve his side’s arrears.

Victories for Farsley and Ossett Albion, against Radcliffe and Trafford respectively, leave Witton 11th in the table – their lowest position in the pyramid since the Northern Premier League introduced a second tier in 1987.

Witton | Neild (GK), Gardner, Hickman, Mullarkey, Chrisokhou (Titchiner 55), Wilson, Newton, Owens, Hopley, Peers, Andrews Subs not used Garner (GK), Parle, Parker

Clitheroe | James (GK), Heywood (Benjamin 77), Walker, Barski, Brady, Dent (Garner 84), Hampson, Lynch, Gonzales, Willoughby (Mayers 75, Harries Sub not used Bonaminio

Attendance 225