Clitheroe go into their Boxing Day clash away at Padiham on the back of their biggest away win since 2002. That 7-1 victory on the 16th November 2002 came away at Winsford United, nearly to be beaten by last weekend’s 6-0 victory against Prescot Cables. A game in which forward Jason Hart scored his second and third goals for the club.

Aswell as upping the goal difference greatly, the six nil victory also lifted Simon Garner’s men up to 12th in the league on to 26 points. There was certainly no rustiness for the Blues, after all they had not played in three weeks. However two goals just before half-time set up an amazing victory meaning Clitheroe will have a chance on Friday to record back to back away wins for the first time this season.

A victory would also see Clitheroe record three wins on the bounce in all competitions after their 2-1 Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy win, earlier in the month against Bamber Bridge.

Padiham on the other hand are in completely contrasting form, having lost their last four home matches at Arbories Memorial Sports Ground, conceding eleven and scoring just two in the process. This sequence also seems them bottom of the table on nine points from twenty three games, having lost ten of their last twelve matches in all competitions.

The Burnley based club lost their last match 3-0 at home to Lancaster City and boast by far the worst defence in the division, having conceded sixty eight times, with a goal difference of minus fourty two.

The Storks finished the 2013/14 campaign in 19th position. However they did get the upper hand over the Blues last season, doing the treble. Padiham beat Clitheroe in the cup before doing the double over them in the league, getting three points at Shawbridge on Boxing Day 2013 and then winning 2-0 back in Burnley on the last game of the season.

There will without a doubt be an edge to the game after Blues forwards Louis Mayers and Jason Hart where signed from Padiham this season. With both players getting on the score sheet during the 6-0 win over Prescot Cables.

Andrew Dawber is still with Accrington Stanley so Alex Palffy looks set to start in goal again. Simon Garner is available again after suspension and Alex Ralph is better again after a chest infection. However Danny Wilkins will sit out the last game of his suspension.

A win for Clitheroe could lift them up to 11th in the table, in touching distance of the league’s top ten. With a young and inexperienced side, many of which came from the North West Counties league going into 2015 in the top ten would represent an extraordinary effort from all the players and management at the club. After many bookmakers tipped the side for instant relegation at the start of the season.