In rare circumstances, the Blues Youth side were awarded three points last weekend for the second time in a week, as their opponents Lytham Town failed to string together a side. Thomas Bartlett’s men gained a 3-0 win, which in the process moved them to within a few points of the second placed side in the division.

The side captained by Ryan Cattermole travel to bottom side Longridge Town tonight and with a just a few weeks left of the season to go, Clitheroe Youth will want to finish on a high.

The Blues go into the game fresh from back-to-back victories to their name (games actually played) having beaten the aforementioned BLGC in the Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy final, before a convincing 5-1 win against local rivals Hurst Green a fortnight ago.

The Blues have won 12 of their last 14 league and cup matches and look set to be on course for their best ever league finish. The side have conceded just twice in their last two games, scoring a mammoth seven in the process.

In front of goal, the Youth side are still firing on all cylinders, scoring 44 times in 10 league matches. Since the 2-1 victory away at Poulton on the 8th February, the Blues strike force have hit the back of the net 22 times in seven matches, averaging 3.1 goals scored per game.

Away from home the Blues have been in exceptional form, winning 4 of their 5 league away matches, in this time they have scored 17 times and conceded just 7.

After a wonder goal in the cup final, it would be unfair not to present centre back Charlie Lloyd with the key man tag this weekend. Side stepping three players before firing a thundering shot at goal against Bolton Lads and Girls Club, the centre back showed forward instincts in the Syndicate Trust Final.

Alongside Ollie Stirzaker in the heart of defence, Lloyd has helped marshal the Blues defence and rarely gets beaten aerially or on the ground. The former Clitheroe Wolves man has played every single one of the Youth sides 10 matches and will be looking to end the season on a high.

Our opponents Longridge Town sit four places (8th) and 20 points (1) ahead of Longridge Town going into this evening’s fixture at the Mike Riding Ground.

The side from Preston sit rock bottom of the Division Red table, having picked up one point from a possible 39 this season. Their solitary draw came on the opening game of the season away at Astley & Buckshaw, meaning since the 7th September the team have lost 14 consecutive league and cup matches.

Longridge’s last defeat of this sequence came on Sunday as they lost 12-1 away at Clitheroe’s local rivals Hurst Green. This was the sides heaviest defeat of the 2014/15 campaign, however they have conceded seven, eight and 9 goals in a match on seven different occasions.

Conceding 81 times in 13 games, the back four have conceded on average 6.2 goals per game, giving them a goal difference of -65. Against a side with a feared strike force who have already scored 9 past them this season, things aren’t looking good for Longridge Town.

Forward Paul Turned has scored six of the sides 16 league goals this season and this statistics shows the club have the worst record in front of goal in the division. A promising sign though shows Longridge Town have only failed to score atleast once in a game three times out of 16 matches. Apart from the aforementioned Turner, only Sam Isherwood has scored more than twice this campaign.

The sides last met on the 7th December 2014 as four goals from forward Levi Barnes was followed up with an Eddy Drake brace, an own goal and finishes from Ryan Cattermole and Lewis Cumpsty.

A win for Clitheroe Youth would move them to within touching distance of second placed Langho whereas three points for Longridge Town would keep them marooned at the bottom of the table, although it would fill them with great pride.