DERBY day at Shawbridge was not one to remember for the Clitheroe fond and faithful, a second half onslaught from the visiting Padiham left The Blues all green faced.

On a day that began so promising, bright spring sunshine eliminated Shawbridge as the sides lined up, their previous encounter was a three – two win for Clitheroe away at Padiham, a game in which Simon Garner scored from a corner.

The starting eleven had a new name, former Padiham midfielder Robbie Bromley took up the number seven shirt and sat in the holding midfield role, the tall light haired man looking for victory against his former side.

Despite attractive, flowing football from The Blues it was Padiham who had the first chance when one ten minutes a quick free kick and subsequent cross from Daley Woods into the path of a sprinting Alex Grice, the connection with Grice’s head was too much, however and the ball flashed over Callum Jacovlevs goal.

A minute Later Zac Dale picked an injury following a challenge form Padiham winger Grice, Dale would not be fit to continue, in his place Joey Mullen.

19 minutes had passed before Clitheroe caused a fright, Sefton Gonzales fizzing a ball across the goal of Sean Davis, though nobody was there to meet it. Six minutes post and it was Gonzales again, this time laid off my Seydou Bamba, with only the goal and Davis in his sites Gonzales couldn’t find his footing and sprayed the ball wide.

On 37 minutes Danny Morton’s lob come cross latched to the head of Ross Dent who guided it into the path of Louis Mayers, his volley only two yards from goal was straight into the arms of Davis.

As the final whistle of the first half was sung Clitheroe were the better side but failed to convert their opportunities into goals, whilst Padiham looked as positive as their goal difference this season.

Referee Ian Gittins blew for the second half but it took till the 52nd minutes till the first chance, and it fell to the visitors, Woods only needed good contact on the ball to nudge it past Jacovlevs, he failed and the score remained 0-0.

However, it was after 60 minutes of play that Chappy Massamba became the first name on the score sheet. After breaking free of back two Seydou Bamba and Laquen Esdaille and into the corridor of goal, his strike flew past Jacovlevs and was caught by the back of his net.

Ten minutes later =it was Massamba again, same story, Esdaille and Bamba lost the Padiham number nine who engineered another confident slot past the Clitheroe number one in goal. Then only one minute later The Blues found themselves three nothing down, Daley Woods this time breaking free and launching the ball from his feet to the roof of the Clitheroe goal.

At three nothing The Blues looked shocked, but they responded, Joey Mullen scoring in the 72nd minutes to reduce the damage. However it was to no avail as Clitheroe failed to launch any further meaningful effort at Davis’ goal and five minutes from time substitute Martin Trickett polished off the afternoon’s scoring with a ferocious shot.

The last whistle of the day blew with relegated Padiham driving the six miles home with only their fourth win of the season. Whilst Clitheroe suffered their 16 lose in the league this campaign. The result doesn’t affect The Blues’ league position as Garner’s men remain in 13th place.

The next game will against league toppers Salford City next Saturday 18th which will be FREE TO ATTEND, look out of the website for previews, scout reports and interviews in the coming days.

Teams:

Clitheroe:

Callum Jacovlevs, Danny Morton, James Walker, Seydou Bamba, Robbie Bromley (Garner 57), David Lynch ©, Sefton Gonzales, Louis Mayers (Hart 47), Zac Dale (Mullen 11)

Subs: Jason Hart, Simon Garner, Callum Carter, Joseph Mullen, Ryan Cattermole

Padiham:

Sean Davis, Jordan Scott, Tom Murphy, Andrew Hill, Ash Young, Tom Fowler, Danny Wilkins, Chris Turner ©, Chappy Massamba Leece 85), Daley Woods (Trickett 75), Alex Grice (Emmot 75)

Subs: Josh Emmot, John Ross, Martin Trickett, Mitchell Leece, Nathan Gibson

Goals:

Clitheroe: Mullen, 72.

Padiham: Massamba, 60, 70., Woods, 71.

Yellow Cards:

Clitheroe: Morton, 23.

Padiham: Grice, 23., Murphy,38.

Attendance: 340

Referee: Ian Grittins