Clitheroe FC triumph in Boxing Day derby

But unfortunately, Sunday’s home game against Scarborough Athletic was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Shawbridge.

The Blues’ next game will be on New Year’s Day at home to Lancaster City (3p.m.).

On Boxing Day, in front of Padiham’s highest attendance of the season of 312, the Blues went ahead after 11 minutes from a hotly contested penalty after Sefton Gonzales was upended in the area.

He picked himself up to score from the spot kick to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.

On 25 minutes, former Storks forward Jason Hart was clattered by Sam Holt, who was booked, but Hart hit back by playing a part in the second goal three minutes later.

Former Accrington Stanley wideman - one of six one-time Clitheroe players in the Padiham side - Chris Turner lost possession midway in his own half, and David Lynch fed Hart, whose shot was turned in by Gonzales.

Padiham pulled one back almost immediately through Robbie Bromley, who found himself in the right place at the right time when a free kick arrived at his feet, and the Storks midfielder curled away from Alex Palffy and found the back of the net from close range to reduce the deficit at half-time to 2-1.

After the break, Lynch shot just wide from a Gonzales lay off, before James Walker again couldn’t find the target after an incisive move.

But the Blues restored their two-goal advantage just after the hour when an error of judgement by Storks keeper Marcus Burges allowed Clitheroes player-boss Simon Garner to score direct from a right-sided corner.

Hart sent a header over midway through the half, and Louis Mayers forced a fine save from Burgess with a header from a Danny Morton cross, before Padiham thought they had pulled a goal back, only for the effort to be disallowed for a foul on Palffy.

The hosts made it a nervy finish to the game for the visitors when another former Blue Mark Sharples turned in a Bobby Langford cross with eight minutes remaining.

But in the end Clitheroe gained revenge for last season’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Padiham on the same date.

Clitheroe: Palffy, Morton, Bamba, Esdaille, Brady, Bonaminio (Garner 46), Wilson (Mayers 46), Lynch, Gonzales, Hart, Walker (Ralph 64). Sub not used: Dent.