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Although City are still in seventh following this deserved win, the Dolly Blues are now only two points adrift of fifth-placed FC United of Manchester.

City dictated proceedings from the first whistle and tested visiting goalkeeper Paul Horridge promptly in the sixth minute.

A fantastic run and cross from Neil Marshall caused all sorts of problems for the visiting defence, but the impressive Horridge effectively pushed the ball to safety.

Nonetheless, City continued to look dangerous as Foster missed two chances in quick succession.

On 10 minutes the hardworking striker drove a left-footer straight at Horridge from 20 yards. Moments later, the marksman wastefully fired the ball wide from a great position following good work from Jackson.

At this stage the Clitheroe back line was in complete disarray and it came as no surprise when City took the lead from their next attack on 12 minutes.

The tireless Marshall found space on the left and when his low cross was superbly dummied by Foster, the ball fell invitingly to Jackson who finished with aplomb.

Spurred on by their opener, City continued to dominate in all areas of the pitch and create more opportunities.

The experienced Iain Swan was once again commanding at the back, while stand-in skipper Stingfellow was ever-present in midfield.

But for all their grandeur, City failed to convert a second. However they soon snatched victory from the brink of despair on the stroke of half-time.

On 44 minutes Clitheroe almost stunned the home crowd after Joel Pilkington took up a dangerous advanced position. With Thornley already committed, the midfielder drilled the ball across goal but only managed to pick out Paul Rigby.

Shortly after Rigby's vital clearance, City broke swiftly and their surge forward ended with Foster delightfully tucking the ball home from close range.

Chances were few and far between after the break, but City maintained their superiority and should have grabbed a third.

On 56 minutes a sweeping City move was almost polished off by Ryan-Zico Black whose curling shot hit the side netting.

And the outstanding Marshall was guilty of missing City's best chance on the hour-mark when he was thwarted by Horridge from point-blank range.

Meanwhile, the afternoon soon got worse for Clitheroe on 62 minutes. Substitute Adam Koslowski received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Craig Redhead.

Following the dismissal, Clitheroe seemed reluctant to go forward and this enabled City to extend their unbeaten run to eight games with relative ease.

City: Thornley 6, Rigby 7, Redhead 7, Greenwood 7, Swan 8, Entwisle 7 (Uberschar 85), Black 7, Stringfellow 8 (Helliwell 80), Foster 8 (Love 78), Jackson 7, Marshall 9

Clitheroe: Horridge, Middleton (Koslowski 45), Shuttleworth, Clarke, Smith, Fisher, Sargeson, P Osborne, Zarak (Hussain 45), Saunders, Pilkington (J Osborne 65)

Referee: James Mainwaring

Starman: Neil Marshall set up both goals, crossed the ball well and unsettled the Clitheroe defence with his pace and movement

Attendance: 281