ON A heavy pitch the Boxing Day derby honours went to championship-chasing Clitheroe and condemned home team Ramsbottom to a bottom three place in the NWCL first division.

The game only went ahead after an inspection half an hour before kick off and Clitheroe started the brighter of the two teams despite the weather making a passing game difficult.

On 14 minutes Clitheroe's Neil Spencer forced a good save from Rams keeper Simon Marsh and three minutes later a Barrie Hart corner was cleared over his own crossbar by Jordan Rispin.

The Rams were struggling to get out of their own half and when they did get hold of the ball they gave it away too cheaply.

On a rare attack Carl Lomax shaved the Clitheroe crossbar and just minutes later Liam Bowden shot wide from 12 yards.

Clitheroe strikers Lee Buggie and Lee Cryer missed chances early in the second half and a Neil Spencer corner was headed wide by Barrie Hart.

Another rare Rams attack caused a scare when a Dale Fielding cross was fumbled by Blues keeper Kris Richens but there was no one on hand to convert the chance.

Buggie saw a header come back off the post for Clitheroe on the hour and six minutes later their pressure was rewarded when Spencer scored at the far post from a corner.

Minutes later they could have increased their lead but Buggie shot wide.

The Blues have now won four out of six Christmas points but alarm bells are ringing for neighbours Ramsbottom who need to claw their way out of the bottom three.

Clitheroe manager Lee Sculpher was pleased with yet another clean sheet as the Shawbridge outfit near a run of three or four important fixtures.

Atherton Colls visit Shawbridge tomorrow (3pm) then Skelmersdale visit on January 4 in the quarter-final of the Worthington Trophy, followed a couple of days later by Holker Old Boys in the Marsden Cup.

The month finishes with a last 32 Vase game away to Ware FC. Busy times are ahead for Clitheroe, but with the squad doing so well the gaffer thinks the good times are also close.