The Blues named an unchanged side from that which had conquered Atheron Collieries in the Semi-final, whilst Chorley’s team sheet boasted the likes of three time goal scorer in this competition Jack Lynch and fifteen so far this season man James Dean.

Referee Simon Lucas blew his whistle for the first time amidst raptures noise of both Blues fans and Magpies alike. Though it was a short four minutes till he blew it for the first goal in this game, Jack Lynch’s soaring ball to Zach Hibbert’s far post rebounded off from the head of Chorley captain Andy Teague and into the back netting.

The fifteen time winners of this competition has the advantage.

A shocked Clitheroe responded four minutes after the goal, with Sefton Gonzales running at The Magpies’ defence, his flashing cross in front of Andy Grundy’s goal found no man in blues colours though.

Ten minutes after the first goal James Dean found himself in front of an advancing Hibbert, after rounding the man in green Dean was brought down by the keeper. The Magpies had themselves a penalty and an opportunity to double their advantage, which they did as the former Clitheroe man Dean himself confidently passed to Hibbert’s right as the man in goal leapt in the opposite direction.

That was Dean’s sixteenth goal of the season.

The Blues had their chance to get into this game, captain David Lynch accumulated continued 35th minute pressure from The Blues with cross-box ball to Cory Bent, the young number seven couldn’t find his feet however and the retreating Chorley defence captured and cleared.

Only five more minutes later Simon Garner’s men were punished, a 50/50 challenge between Danny Morton and Josh Hines on the halfway line sprung the Magpies way and Chris Almond found himself with the ball on the edge of Hibbert’s goal, his lob over the advancing keeper sealed The Blues’ first half fait.

Two minutes before the half time whistle and Clitheroe came their closest as Sefton Gonzales’ neat turn on Adam Mather in the Chorley defence gave him a site of goal, his strike hitting the right post of Grundy in goal.

Beginning the second half three goals down The blues introduced Zac Dale for Seydou Bamba, James Walker filled in at left back as Dale took his usual position on the wing.

Dale had his first chance five minutes into the half when Lynch’s lobbed ball across the Chorley defence bounced at the feet of Dale, the young dark haired winger sadly couldn’t acquire the touch he desired.

Following 56 minutes of this final Danny Morton’s precise pass into the corridor of Gonzales’ run played in The Blues’ number nine, one on one with keeper Grundy made himself big, too big for Gonzales who could finish only into the advancing keeper’s chest.

Nine minutes before the game’s last whistle David Lynch was teed up following brilliant movement and passing from Morton and Dale, the captain’s ferocious shot was straight at Chorley’s number one in goal who in truth didn’t have the hardest nights work.

Though Clitheroe played brilliantly in the second half Chorley had won this one in the first, their speedy forwards and tough defenders rarely gave an inch as The Magpies cruised to their 16 Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy.

Clitheroe:

Zach Hibbert, Danny Morton, Seydou Bamba (Dale, 45), Roberto Bonaminio, Danny Brady, Simon Garner, Cory Bent (Dent, 79), David Lynch ©, Sefton Gonzales, Louis Mayers (Burns, 83), James Walker

SUBS: Zac Dale, Ross Dent, Ryan Cattermole, Richard Burns, Alex Palffy

Chorley:

Aaron Grundy, Mark Ross, Adam Mather, Andy Teague © (G 4), Matt Flynn, Jake Cottrell, Josh Hine, Jack Lynch (Witham, 65), James Dean (G 14 PEN), Chris Almond ( G 40, Winter, 79), Paul Jarvis (Dorney, 57)

SUBS: Dale Whitham, Adam Roscoe, Chris Simm, Harry Winter, Jack Dorney