70 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, April 15,2004 .,C r '' High drama
Congleton T own........ 2 Clitheroe......................3 A PULSATING encouiir ter saw the Blues let a two- goal lead slip, Chris Whit- tingham receive a red card, and finally substitute Lee Cryer fire home a crucial winning goal. After the recent defeats
for Clitheroe, it w,as vital th a t three points were secured from this tricky away fixture, and the per formance from the whole team was exceptional. The game started posi
tively for Lee Sculpher’s men as they raced into an early 2-0 lead. Gary Jackson, back in
the starting line-up due to Cryer’s recent illness, caused the home defence real problems with his pace and strength. A long ball forward by
Neil Reynolds after just seven minutes gave Jack- son something to chase, but home defender Adrian Reilly appeared to have the situation under control. However, the Clitheroe
striker outmuscled his opponent and was able to shoot home from the edge of the area. This shook Congleton to
life, and they were unlucky not to be back on level terms five minutes later. From a cross into the
area, Danny Worthington hooked the ball past Kris
Richens, but Russell Clarke was on hand to clear the ball off the line. Just a couple of minutes
later Jackson’s second dou bled the lead for the visi tors. Chris Burke failed to
deal with a low Martin Aspinwall cross, and as he hesitated, Jackson nipped in to fire home. Despite being two
behind, Congleton didn’t panic and continued to play neat passing football. 'They then gained hope
on 22 minutes when Wor thington reduced the deficit as he shot past Richens in a goalmouth scramble. And the remainder of
the opening period saw both teams reduced to long-range efforts, with Reynolds going close for the Blues, while Richens saved well from a Paul Rudkin shot. The home side began
the second half positively, but the Blues repelled the early pressure. On 62 minutes though,
Clitheroe were reduced to 10 men. Whittingham, who had
already been booked, kicked out at his marker after being fouled and his second yellow card fol lowed. This advantage once again gave Congleton a
■ boost, and they began to lay siege to the Clitheroe goal. Richens produced a
superb save on 64 minutes from a point-blank Michael Scully header, before he was beaten by the equaliser four minutes later. Adam Gardner slipped
as he went to clear a ball over the top, and this enabled Worthington to race in for his second goal of the game. The home team, fans
and management celebrat ed the moment like a cup final-winning goal, and Clitheroe knew they would have to dig deep to secure victory. Glyn Barker and Jack-
son made way for Steve McDonald and Cryer as manager Sculpher looked for a winning goal, and it was Cryer who produced the goods with a wonder strike on 75 minutes. A long cross from Barrie
Hart was superbly pulled down by Cryer, who swift ly turned inside his mark er and shot low and hard past Matt Conkie in the Congleton goal to restore the Blues’ lead. Numbers on the pitch
were evened up a minute later when Congleton’s Steve Bannico was sent off after receiving his second booking of the game, for
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Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) Blues in the title hunt!
foolishly throwing the ball at Gardner. Despite coming under
further pressure, Clitheroe defended resolutely and were able to run the clock down for a hugely impor tant victory, and to also gain the psychological advantage over their hosts, who visit Shaw- bridge on Saturday.
inexplicably volleyed wide. The second half followed
a similar pattern, with the final pass often letting both sides down. The hard, hobbling sur
face made it difficult to pass the ball, and the Blues struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Richens was called into action twice in a 10-minute
Curzon A sh to n .......... 0 spell midway through the Clitheroe......................0 second period, first pushing CLITHEROE moved a point closer to the league t it le following a g r itty goalless draw in a disap pointing game. The home side set out to
unsettle the Blues, and with goalmouth action at a premium, neither team really looked like gaining the victory. A scrappy opening half
saw little in the way of real opportunities, with a Gary Jackson volley at the goal- keeper the closest Clitheroe came to taking the lead. Curzon will feel they
could have scored on 37 minutes
following
Clitheroe’s only real mis take of the afternoon. Kris Richens came to
collect a long ball forward, but instead saw Lee Sculpher hook the ball away. I t fell invitingly for Nick
Fisher, but with the goal mouth a t his mercy, he
a David Birch free kick wide, and then scrambling to his left to push away a Matthew Thorpe header. It always looked likely
that one goal would win the game, and unfortu nately Clitheroe were unable to take advantage when the opportunity came their way. On 72 minutes Lee
Cryer found himself with a clear run on goal, but Cur zon keeper David Fish stood up to him and diverted the ball out for a corner. Clitheroe then almost
stole a valuable victory with the final kick of the game through substitute Neil Spencer. A last-minute corner
saw the ball fall to Spencer, but his well- struck shot was pushed away by Fish in the Cur zon goal as the referee blew for full-time.
Andy Alston Waddington’s cup joy Replay needed \V
- Waddington................6 WADDINGTON beat derby rivals Chatburn in extra-time to win a nail- biting Craven League First Division Cup semi final. - The visitors dominated
the first half last Thursday, turning the Chatburn defence inside out. A Robert Lloyd brace
and a third from David Sutcliffe put Waddington in charge, but Chatburn’s never-say-die attitu d e struck back in the second half. Within 10 minutes of
the restart, the home side had turned the screw on Waddington and pulled two goals back. However, the visitors
lifted their game, and full back Peter Dugdale scored
, the best goal of the match - which should have been the winner. But
again.Chatburn
came back in style and levelled the game at 4-4. In extra time, Wadding
ton started the stronger side, and it was Llo.vd who
> X.»<*«(« b C h a tb u rn ....................4 scored his 32nd goal of the
season to put Waddington back in front and complete his hat-trick. Two minutes later
Lloyd was upended in the box, but his spot kick was saved. Chatbum again applied
the pressure, but were denied by Walsh in goal, alongside man-of-the- match Simon Cunliffe, who was as solid as he had been all evening. Waddington broke, and
a John Leaver run and cross found the oncoming David Sutcliffe to head home the winner. This was Waddington’s
third attempt this season at beating Chatburn on their own pitch, and the side would like to thank R and P Hargreaves for sponsoring the game. Tonight, Waddington
play Barnoldswick Town in the semi-final of the Slater Merchant Craven Cup at Rolls-Royce in Bamoldswick. All players to meet 4-45
p.m. at the Waddington Arms, kick-off 6-30 p.m. The same side then face
an away trip to Embsay Reserves on Saturday, kick-off 2 p.m. All players meet 12-30 p.m. a t the Waddington Arms. Meanwhile the First
Division Cup Final on Thursday, April 29th kicks-off at 6-30 p.m. The game will take
place at Barnoldswick Town’s ground Victory Park, where Waddington will play either Carlton or Gargrave. In the league, Wadding
ton recently lost 5-3 at home to Gargrave. Waddington took the
lead with a Robert Lloyd goal, but by half-time they trailed 3-1. Substitute Mark Harri
son pulled one goal back 10 minutes after the break, but Gargrave again took a two-goal lead. Lloyd got one back, but
promotion-bound Gar grave scored the ivinner. On Saturday, goals from
Steven Holden and Simon Cunliffe weren’t enough to stop Carleton’s promotion celebrations in their last league game, as the visi tors won 4-2. ( 'l ie <!::'>
i.cfcw
R im in g to n .................. 1 the advancing Kershaw Hurst Green................ I into the comer of the net. TWO hours of end-to-end football failed to separate the derby rivals, who will have to go through it all again on Saturday to decide this East Lan cashire League President’s Cup tie. 'The home side started
brightly and went ahead inside 10 minutes follow ing a move down the right. Carter was sent through
by Braithwaite, and only a last-ditch tackle prevented the forward a chance. But the visitors’ relief
was short lived as Mankowski scored from close range' from the resulting corner. Hurst Green almost
equalised when a free kick skimmed the bar, and they played the more construc tive football as the home side gave away possession time and again. I t remained 1-0 until 20
minutes were left, and with the visitors looking the likeliest to score, it was no surprise when they beat the off-side trap to race clear and slot the ball oast
/.04 H w-, IICj Hurst Green’s set piece
plays proved a constant threat to Rimington, and from one corner, a goal- bound header was cleared off the line. With extra-time loom
ing, a header by Lawson back across goal found Mankowski, whose shot on the turn just flew over the bar. In extra-time. Coulter
raced down the right and clipped a superb ball into Sayle, who controlled it and managed to lob the keeper under pressure, only to see it rebound off the bar back. The play continued to
swing from one end to the other, and Mankowski almost finished off a flow ing move, but his left-foot effort sliced wide, and with just minutes remaining, the visitors had another header from a corner cleared off the line. Rimington had the best chances, but Hurst Green had most of the play, so a replay will decide who makes it to the last four.
i Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) View
f AFTER two tricky away Easter fixtures, Clitheroe return to Shawbridge on Saturday knowing that
■nine points from their remaining four, games will guarantee them the title.
' ‘ home games in seven days, the whole
town has the opportunity to cheer the team on to victory. Everyone of the 2,000 crowd who were at Shaw bridge for the 1996 FA Vase semi-final will remem-
- ber the great atmosphere on the day and the posi tive reaction from the players. -
: : Let’s hope that the: local people again become ■
involved with this possible glory, run for the team, and ensure that they are given everyone’s full sup port in these final four games.
. ' Congleton will be hoping to avenge their defeat to the Blues last Saturday, when a stormy, encounter was settled by Lee Cryer’s winning goal. ; Congleton manager Kevin Langley-was not a:
happyman at full time, as his reaction towards the Glitheroe fans proved, and he will be desperate to put a dent in the Blues’ title aspirations. game is then followed by a trip to near neighr
bours Ramsbottom United, who will not do us any ; favours., ■
• Ramsbottom were; the firs t team-to-defeat
Clitheroe in the league this season, and will be hop ing to complete a famous double over the champi onship hopefuls. However if we can take two victories from these
two matches^ it would set up a tremendous after noon at Shawbridge on Saturday week, when anoth er -victory, this time over Newcastle Town could bring the league title to Clitheroe. v So don’t just sit back and wait to read about it in next week’s paper,make the effort this weekend and get along to Shawbridge and cheer on the Blues. ; ^ It worked for the team back in 1996, and there’s no reason why it can’t work again now.
Andy Alston
Festival of golf is a major success
A THREE-day Easter festival of golf at Clitheroe Golf Club was concluded in the clubhouse on Sun day evening when captain Raymond Ashley present ed the prizes. Generously supported
by Nettleton’s , the Friday fourball resulted in success for Oliver Drinkwater and Gary Speak (44) by a one- point margin from Ralph Postlethwaite and Simon Raine. David Heesom and
Chris Heesom amassed 42 to take third place after a multiple card play-off. During the course of
that event, Keith Under wood was delighted to record his first hole-in-one at the par three 17th hole to scoop the pro’s shop jackpot. Saturday’s Marriott
Medal saw Peter Harrison win a stay at the Manch ester Marriott with an impressive round of 74-8-66. Gary Speak (71-3-68) picked-up another prize by topping Division One on the cards from Gary Thompson, John Barber and David Heesom. Connor McLaughlin
(81-13-68) won Division Two and also qualified for the Pro-Am stages of the national Lombard event. But he also needed a
( i ! ; U , j i . ) j - j i
card play-off to edge out Simon Raine and Colin Akeroyd. Sunday’s team event
again saw the-Heesom family prominent. David, Chris and
Andrew were joined by John Cartmell to amass 86 points and win Shackle- ton’s sponsors’ prize. Again the outcome was
decided on the cards, with A. Houghton, P. Wood, P. Walker and A. Howatt in second place, ahead of J. Gibson, A. Wright, N. Reeves and P. Greaves. ^ Joan Whittaker and
Jane Smedley were run- ^ away winners of the Scott o Leggatt Foursomes at Whalley GC on Thursday. ^ The pair shot 92-22-70 ^
to ease home by five-and- @ a-half strokes from Daphne Dawson and Sophie Brooks (85-9.5- 75.5), with Sue Madden and Agnes Seery in third, after a round of 110-30-80. ^ Lady members at
Stonyhurst Park enjoyed ^ their annual spring break . with a two-day trip to Rydding Park Hotel at ^ ■ Harrogate.
A Kath Hargreaves was
the overall winner ahead of ^ Joyce Kenyon with the lat ter teaming up with Lynne . Scholes and Carol Gorton
to win the team urize. tv- J <
ilj'* ' * .l 1 . / 1 w
Terry s tips for the top
by Phil Simpson
TERRY Braithwaite has already predicted his title trio for the new Veka Rib- blesdale League season. Current title holders
Read are his tip to make it three in succession. But the Ribblesdale
Wanderers skipper has a sneaky suspicion that Set tle will be this seasons dark horses. He said: “Read are still
the side to beat, they’ve kept Peter Sleep as an
■ amateur and got a profes sional as well! “Great Harwood will be
there or thereabouts once again, but I think Settle will be the dark horses. “They’ve kept Stuart
Hornby on as an amateur and got a pro as well like Read, so they will be a tough nut to crack. “But if I were to pick
the top three, I would say Read, Great Hanvood and Settle - in that order.” Shahid Nawaz begins
his eighth season as paid man at the club, as Wan derers kick off their season on Saturday with a home clash against Whalley, before travelling to Cherry Tree seven days later. And Braithwaite admits
it will be tough: “Whalley have two or three big play-' ers, and if you are not all there they will give you a game. 'And over the years we
have had some tremen dous battles with Cherry Tree - tha t is always a good game. “The pros have always
had a good battle with each other, but with them changing their pro it might be a different kettle of fish this time. “Unfortunately, we’re
going to be two or three short this weekend. “David Howard has
hurt his back, so he’ll be out for a week or two, and I’m unavailable as well. “Dave is a big blow, but
it is better to get the injuries out of the way at the start because you have time to recover.” As for the Ramsbottom
Cup, Wanderers are involved in the tie of the round as they welcome holders Read to Church Meadow. And Braithwaite joked:
“Yeah, a nice easy game to start you off in the Cup! “I ’m pleased i t is at
home, but Read will be the favourites to scoop every thing this season. “If we were to beat them, there is a chance we
could go all the way to the final. “I think the winner of
that game will be one of the favourites, but we’ve
Cross-country champs
THE five acres of land at Oakhill College in Whalley were recently put to excellent use with an inter-house cross-country competition. For a runner, cross-country is the ultimate challenge -
you have to run over difficult ground in as short a time as possible, while overcoming natural obstacles and the
weather along the way. This year’s best feet came from Martyrs House, with
365 points to Scholars’ 360 points. Boys: 1, Aaron Durkin (Houghton): 2, Oliver Deven-
ney (Chatburn); 3, Alex Newton (Stonyhurst). Girls: 1, Claudia Yelland (Waterfoot): 2, Sarah Tay
lor (Norden); 3, Daniela Hargrave (Burnley). Pictured is Claudia Yelland of Waterfoot, finishing
first in the girls’ section, (s)
got a tough task in the Lancashire Cup at Skelmersdale. “But again, it’s only 11
against 11, and on our day we can beat anyone.” Wanderers ended the
season in fifth spot,'but recorded just eight bonus points in 26 outings. And Braithwaite admit
ted tha t that same win ning. return this time around would reap greater rewards: “We won just as many games as the run ners-up last season, but we just seemed to suffer on the bonus points. “We just couldn’t seem
to polish sides off at times, we were getting eight or nine wickets regularly. “I think it’s very diffi
cult because your main aim is to win every game - but it wasn’t for the lack of trying! “But if we win 16 games
again this season, I will be surprised if we don’t get more bonus points.”
www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, April 15th, 2004 71
Read set sights on place in cricket league history books
by Phil Simpson
READ could make histo ry this season, as they pur sue a hat-trick of league titles. No team has achieved
the feat since Blackpool Services during the Second World War. And skipper Warren
Eastham admits they are primed for glory. He said: “We’re hoping
to do it - we’ll never have a better chance. “Hopefully the experi
ence in the side will see us home, but it’s safe to say we'll be disappointed if we’re not pushing for the top two. “I t ’s good to have the
opportunity to go for something like that, the club has worked tremen dously hard and that’s not just the first team. “The committee work
extremely hard and the success we have had recent ly is a tribute to them. “I have a feeling Settle will be the main chal
B CLITHEROE got the new sea son off to a winning start in a friendly game at Lancashire League club Accrington on Saturday. Clithcroe were without injured
skipper Neil Bolton, and debuts were given to new signings Ian Baldwin and Andrew Kenyon, and young seamcr, Tom Bailey. All three played their part in a
lengers, but you can never write off Great Harwood. “They are always there
or thereabouts, but Settle have retained their pro and Paul Stafford has stayed. “But we’ll have to wait
and see when we play them, so who can say?” Last season’s paid man
Peter Sleep has stepped down to the amateur ranks, paving the way for Danny Law. - The 28-year-old, who
was Durham’s Bowler of the Year in 2001, is the Whalley Road outfit’s first English professional in a decade. And Eastham is looking forward to linking up with him: “Danny is an extremely nice lad, and apparently has just had a very good season in Aus tralia. “He lives in Durham
and has come with a very good background - people who have played against him have said he is more than capable.
five-wicket victory, played under grey skies and in the usual freez ing early season conditions. Accrington’s openers got off to
a steady start against an accurate Bailey and a somewhat rusty Mark Hargreaves. The introduction of Neil Bibby
into the attack produced the first wicket, with debutant Kenyon
“I ’ve talked to him and
he has said he can’t wait to get stuck in. “He is an all-rounder, a
hard-hitting batsman who bowls quite sharp - a gen eral all-round good player. “I ’ve talked to Jim
Kenyon who rates him as one of the best signings in the league, so we’ll have to wait and see.” Read have been handed
a seemingly easy opening to their title defence, in the shape of Oswaldtwistle Immanuel at home, and a trip to Whalley. But the skipper is not
taking anything for grant ed: “I never say we have an easy start, because it has a habit of kicking you in the teeth. “We got beat by Padi-
ham and Barnoldswick last year, and those are the games that can cost you. “Over the last few years
we have had a habit of beating the top sides, and struggling against the less er sides. They all want to knock us off our perch, and
taking a good catch. Bibby bowled an economical spell of his flat left-arm spin, conceding only 13 runs from his eight overs. Opener Ahmed scored a
dogged 50 for Accrington before retiring, and a couple of big hits from skipper Matt Wilson in a quick-fire 22 boosted the score up to 155 off the allotted 40 overs.
the more successful we are, the hungrier they will be. “You’ve got to earn
respect in this league - you don’t just get it. “We are very pleased
with the start we have, but it doesn’t matter when you play sides like that, you still have to beat them if you want to be successful.” They also face a local
derby in the shape of Rib blesdale Wanderers in the Ramsbottom Cup: “They’ve got a capable pro, but I would like to think we have the strength in depth to come through. “I want to try and get
through in the cups this year, because the Rams bottom Cup final last year was fantastic. “They’ve lost John Rain
and they’re probably not as strong as us, but they will be a handful. “We’ve got to look to
advance in every competi tion, but the Lancashire Cup will be tough. “Ormskirk will be no push overs, and we’re in
Clitheroe’s reply got off to a
shaky start with stand-in skipper Mark Bolton and fellow opener Peter Dibb back in the tent with only four runs on the board. Kenyon and Bishop came to
the rescue with a third-wicket partnership of 78, Kenyon impressing on his debut with a well struck 42.
Chipping keep pressure on
Hoole U nited........................I Chipping.............................. 2 CHIPPING kept the pressure on the leaders with a ■vital victo ry at Hoole United on Saturday. The locals dominated the first
i l
half from the outset, stretching play down the flanks through Phil Peck and Richard Baines, with John Critchley and John Fletcher winning every battle in the middle of the park. A good playing surface allowed
Chipping to play their natural passing game, and they bossed possession throughout the open ing period. Reward came early as good
work in the midfield got the ball wide to Baines on the right, who cut inside to unleash a powerful drive th a t the Hoole keeper, found too hot to handle. Danny Austin was on hand to
slide the ball home from close range for his 40th goal in just 22 games of a prolific season. His partnership with Kenny
Leece has been crucial to Chip ping’s success this term. Chipping increased their
advantage shortly after when a scramble in the Hoole penalty area found Peck unmarked at the far post to squeeze the ball home. The defending of Dean Austin,
Micky Garth, Micky Hayhurst and Dave Ross offered nothing to the Hoole attackers in the first half, and Matt Ireland, in goal,
barely touched the ball as Chip ping went into half-time with a 2-0 advantage. A tactical change at half-time
by Hoole saw them gain more possession in the second half and start to create a few chances. The Chipping defence contin
ued to hold firm until midway through the half, when a fortu nate break allowed a Hoole strik er to pull a goal back. This gave the home side belief,
and they continued to battle bravely. Shortly after the Hoole goal.
Chipping had a penalty shout turned down when a defender blatantly handled on the line. However, despite every player
on the pitch seeing the incident, the referee waved play on. This lucky break lifted the
Hoole team, and they continued to press, but the Chipping defence kept them at bay. Hoole’s best effort came from a
thunderous free kick, which Ire land held well to hold with for wards bearing down on him. This was the last chance of the
game, and Chipping held on to gain three more valuable points. With a crunch home clash with
Highcross on Saturday, this could prove key as Chipping aim for the top. Match sponsor for the day was Napthens Solicitors.
the same half of the draw as Bootle, but we will give it our best.” And he also admitted
that 2004 is a big year for young s tarlet Oliver Newby: “Oliver has got a massive year ahead of him, he has a one-year contract with Lancashire and he has a lot of big decisions to make. “That will be a down
side for us, but he’s push ing hard for a place and good luck to him. “Michael Veevers has
joined us from Cherry Tree so his experience will be an asset, and Andrew Rushton has come in from Earby. “Paul Haydock has also
come in from Leyland, who has a great attitude and has looked good in the nets. “But these players have
all been told that they are not necessarily guaranteed a place. They have to push hard and get the bit between their teeth.”
Bishop went on to score a well-
deserved half century before retiring, leaving Simon Coulter to guide his side home in the last over with a well-paced 30 not out. On Saturday, Clitheroe travel
to Blackburn Northern, Whalley are at Ribblesdale Wanderers, and Read host Oswaldtwistle, all games start at 1-30 p.m.
CHATBURN
CRICKET CLUB The players and officials would like to
thank the following for kindly sponsoring equipment for the 2004season
George & Ann Almond, Chatburn
K T Simpson, Garden Services 0796 7095423
Luke Hodgkinson Esq. Chatburn K Johnson Esq
J Young Esq, Chatburn
R Porter Esq, Butcher, Chatburn Cosgroves of Rimington Gill Pollard
Beauty With Inn - 01200 440090 E Dugdale (Merchants) Limited
S Dobson Lawnmowers/Garden Machinery - 01200 440448
GGM Grounds Care Regent Yard
Whitewails hid Est. Colne 01282 860444 E&D (Plant Hire) Ud Peter and Irene Clough
Chatburn Village Motor Co. -01200440004-
3M Neotecimic Limited
Brian Price & Son Funeral Directors 01200441297
Mr & Mrs C C Riley Mr & Mrs J. Ridgway, Chatburn R Hewitt Limited, J & R Contractors
Castle Cement Limited, Ribblesdale Works
Dash Computer Products
M & M.L. Paul, Hudson lees, Chatburn Ross Lee Construction Ltd. E Jackson (Chatburn) Limited
Shackletons Garden Nurserj’, Chatburn Powerclean UK Limited Mr & Mrs R. Birch
Age of Iron - 01200 420020
>
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