Clitheroe and Padiham prepare for Boxing Day clash

Blues boss Simon Garner insists he doesn’t need any extra ammunition going in to the Boxing Day derby with Padiham.
Simon GarnerSimon Garner
Simon Garner

Garner was pulled in to a war of words with Arbories chief Steve Wilkes recently, relating to transfer activity between the two clubs.

But there’s no vitriol on Garner’s part, just a desire to get one over on the team he’s yet to beat as a manager.

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Ahead of the clash on enemy soil, he said: “It should lead up to a good game on Boxing Day. I’ve played them twice as Clitheroe manager and they’ve beaten us twice. What’s happened recently is irrelevant, we’re just focussed on our football. I want to get one over on them because of recent results.

“It’s a local derby so there’s a lot at stake. It’s going to be a cracker and it’s one of those games where their league position is irrelevant. We’re rivals and it’s the holiday period so there should be a good crowd and it should make a great occasion.”

Clitheroe’s preparation for the fixture couldn’t have gone any better with the Blues battering Prescot Cables 6-0.

Former Storks Jay Hart (2) and Louis Mayers were both on the scoresheet while James Walker, Richard Burns and Sefton Gonzales added to the rout,

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Padiham, meanwhile, sunk deeper in to trouble in the Evo-Stik First Division North table as they lost 3-0 to Lancaster City. Wilkes’s side have accumulated just nine points in 23 league outings.

“I’m looking forward to it because there’s no reason why we can’t come out on top and keep climbing the table,” said Garner. “Boxing Day will be the halfway point of the season so we can assess our situation after that.

“We’ve definitely improved since the start of the season and I’m happy with the squad. As a club we’re really looking forward to the New Year. I want to win the Padiham game more than anything. I want to win every game we play though. I don’t need any extra ammunition to beat them. All I’m bothered about is getting three points.

“I’ve not beaten them yet so I’m determined to get one over on them. It’s a game I expect us to come out on top in. Jay and Louis have played for Padiham and they’ll want to show why they got a move to Clitheroe. I brought them in because I believed they would improve the squad.”

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