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IM i 01282 426161 Fine win


is marred by further injuries


BAe Warton . . . . . . . . 2 2


ClUheroe ................ .. -27 FIVE tries for the Little- moor men on Saturday, but this most handsome of vic­ tories was tempered with two more players limping off to join the ever-length­ ening injury list. The depressing sight of


Blues out to take league form into derby cup cracker


lock forward Richie Edmundson and winger Danny Glover clutching damaged legs did little to enthuse the watching selec­


particular, was a grievous blow, as the strong-running back was developing into the sort of dangerous strike runner Clitheroe have been short of for many a season. The management will be


tors. The loss of Glover, in


By ADRIAN CAPSTICK


AFTER Saturday’s compre­ hensive victory over Squires Gate a t Shawbridge,


Clitherbe manager Lee Sculpher believes his side are more th an capable of improving on th e ir home form in the cups. And the Blues boss aims to


anxiously scanning the medical bulletins for good news before this weekend’s latest installment of Clitheroe’s league season. However, there were a lot


of plus points to be gained from this friendly fixture.


to improve - especially at line out time - although the scrummaging is ade­ quate, without looking like destroying anybody. In the loose, the recy


The set piece is starting


- above the previous week’s. This, coupled with the


cling of the ball and general support play was a notch


good form of John Good­ win, along with Nathan Peel in the back line, gave the side an overall more dangerous attacking look about it. Indeed, it was Peel him­


have only dropped four points


all season. “But we are confident. “We’ve got to be - we’re


start with a win over Bacup Borough in their League Challenge Cup Quarter-Final this Saturday. After seeing his side move to within three points of league leaders Mossley, with two games in hand, he said: “If anything, there is a question mark hanging over our home form, as we have lost in every cup competition at home, as well as three league games, whv ereas away from home we


come to lie down, and are going to make it as difficult as possible. “The introduction of Glyn


“But Bacup are not going to ,


playing at home and we are second in the league, so we’re probably expected to win the game.


the cup, and then Congleton in the league, we should be in a good position coming into the final few months of the season. “And if we can have a good


let two in last week, and two the week before, and it is a cause for eoncern as they were sloppy goals really. ' “If the opposition score


run at home and maintain the away form, then there is every chance and possibility that we will be up there in search of the honours.” Saturday’s game against


Clitheroe heap pressure on


Barker to our front line has made a massive difference, but unfortunately he’s cup tied for Saturday, so whether Steve McDonald or Neil Spencer plays up front, that has yet to be worked out.” Looking beyond the cup clash, Sculpher intends to mir­ ror the side’s away form at home: “If we can win the next two games agaiinst Bacup in


nsu nac m uwu ....... o


Clilheroe .............................5 Squires Gale


self who opened the scor­ ing, bagging the first of a brace, before Glover pow­


ered over. Unfortunately, Peel,


Clitheroe’s number one kicker, whose running game is going so well, seems to have lost his kick­ ing boots in recent weeks, and some of his conversion attempts were horribly wide of the mark. Luckily, in reserve for


A FIVE-STAR display from Clitheroe saw them move \vithin' three points of table toppers Mossley, as they eased past Squires Gate on Saturday cour­


............... 2


tesy of four first-half goals. And with Mossley playing in


the FA Vase, the Blues took full advantage with one of their games in hand. The visitors were on the back


foot from the kick-off and their tactics appeared to be to spoil the game, as opposed to making any sort of effort to play foot­


ball. An early goal after just two


just such an occasion was the substantial figure of lock-forward Matt Dug- dale, who, with a more uncomplicated style, kicked a howitzer right from the touchline - a kick that even a certain Mr J. Wilkinson would be proud of.


Clitheroe’s superior fitness told, with flanker Allan Nuttall on the score sheet, showing his improved match fitness. Clitheroe could have had


In the second period Clarets seeking a grand effort from their fans


. just one example. But had Clitheroe not


a lot more - Goodwin bla­ tantly tackled without the ball yards from the line was


had two men in the sin bin at different times, there maybe could have been


more.This is an area tha t needs addressing - it’s hard enough with 15 men with­ out been reduced in num­ ber because of some brain­


less play. On Saturday, Clitheroe


. Broughton at Littlemoor, kick-off 2-15 p.m.


host Manchester side By EDWARD LEE


BURNLEY FC have launched an ambitious bid to solve their current cash


crisis. They are trying to track down


500 fans who will each be willing to find £1,000 for the club. If they are successful they can


a wider Clarets audience. Chief executive Dave


Mpe out the predicted cash hole for this season at a stroke. Initial enquiries among the


Edmundson officially launched the 500 Mile Club on Tuesday by saying: “This is something that is open to absolutely everyone. Individuals, corporate support­ ers, groups of friends - anyone at all can get involved. Pubs could even have a jar on the bar and try to get together enough money.” In recognition for the £1,000


Turf Moor fan base have already come up with almost iOO fans who are willing to pledge £1,000 to the cause. And now they are appealing to


nies and other groups who have come up with the money. The first team will play one


. . . . ,


game next season in those special shirts, of which only a further 500 will be made and presented at a special evening for the sponsors. Edmundson continued: “Find­


ing 500 people prepared to put £1,000 into the club as quickly as possible will see us start to make inroads into the cash hole in Feb­


contributions, there will be a roll of honour in the Bob Lord Stand at Turf Moor. And a special shirt will also be


ruary. “They will be people who have


commissioned featuring the names of the individuals, compa­


recognised they have a commit­ ment to the club in this time of crisis. And they will be noted down as the people who, in many


ways, saved the club. “I’m also trying to use this as


. 3


an example of the vision wo have of the club as the people’s club and the focus of the community. “Wo see these 500 people as


being very interactive in the com­ munity. I want to see Burnley Football Club as the facilitator in the community and use that bank of knowledge to help the disadvantaged.” Former Do\vning Street advis­


er Alastair Campbell has already promised to be the first name of that 500 Mile Club roll of honour. And the lifelong Burnley fan is also doing everything he can to


r


help the club through it’s current crisis.


t Vio Himiiorh it’< Speaking at a press briefing at


Turf Moor on Saturday he announced plans to speak at a sportsmans dinner at Turf Moor in March a t which he will be joined at the top table by Man­ chester United manager Sir Alex


Ferguson. At the same briefing, club


chairman Barry Kilby highlight-, ed the plight currently facing the


club. It is not simply a matter of


raising money to avoid the threat of administration this season, it is


an ongoing financial nightmare. ? rnrrpni. He admitted: “We are curre He admitted: “We are current­


ly £5m. in debt, £3m. externally and £2m. in directors’ loans. There is a shortfall for this season looming wo arc trying to cover. “But away on the horizon, wo


have to start some capital repay­ ments again next season and wo are in negotiations \vith our cred­ itors for a postponement of those payments. “Next season our fate is back


in our own hands at last, by working through the contracts, but we do need this help from our creditors at this time for a five- year plan we have put together to pay everybody.”


minutes though set the Blues on


their way. A well-worked move from a


Stuart Toclhunlcr


throw-in resulted in a neat pass­ ing move between Neil Reynolds and Chris "Whitting- ham, with the latter pulling the ball back from the bye-line into the area for Lee Cryer to score from close range.


Glyn Barker then came close to doubling the lead with a hat-


trick of chances. He shot over from a tight


. out for off-side.; Squires Gate never, really


angle, before finding himself through on goal, but from a position wide on the right, he couldn’t find a finish. In between these opportuni­ ties, he also saw an effort ruled


out from goal. Barker struck a powerful first-time shot that flew into the top right-hand cor­ ner, giving the goalkeeper no •chance.


McDonald saw him win the ball inside the Squires Gate half, and his strong run enabled him to lay the ball off for Barker. Despite being some 25 "yards


Good work from Steve 1 ._____ And just a minute later Whit i i. ■.


posed any problems in the open- ‘ tingham was up-ended inside ing half, although were unhappy the penalty area, and Stuart th a t a strong penalty appeal Todhunter calmly rolled the was turned down after. Paul resulting penalty home. Ryan had gone down inside the Right on the stroke of half­ penalty area.


time Barker found himself in on The nearest they came to


scoring was when a goal-bound shot from Alex Rawson was bravely blocked by Barrie Hart. Clitheroe then scored three


goals in a five-minute spell before half-time to secure the points by the interval. On 40 minutes Barker scored


the goal of the game to provide a two goal cushion.


got the fifth goal on 53 minutes. Good play from McDonald,


___J. i. t.. .. f i r j . L . 1 IZO 1 I'rvc


as he chased a seemingly lost cause, enabled him to rob the defender of the ball and fire home past the goalkeeper at his near post. With the victory already


guaranteed, all three substitutes were introduced into the action. Chris Heslop almost made an


instant impact, but his shot on the turn was straight at the


goalkeeper.


goal. His shot was well blocked by


The Blues then maybe took '


their toot oft the gas a little, and this enabled Squires Gate to get a couple of consolation goals. On 75 minutes, Scott Sugden


goalkeeper Speight, but the ball bounced off him back towards the goal. Speight recovered well to


scored, and 10 minutes later Darren Jones found himself unmarked and headed homo


reach the ball again, but, under pressure from Cryer, could only punch the ball into his own net. The second half saw the Blues open brightly and they


from a corner. However, another polished


performance from the Blues keeps the pressure on Mossley, who will be anxiously looking over their shoulders.


good goals, then you don’t mind, but they were poor


goals. “At the end of the day,


lowly Squires Gate saw the locals command the match and take a healthy lead in the first half, and despite winning the game 5-2 - taking their tally to 16 goals in four league games - Clitheroe looked too good to concede two such poor


goals. But this tendency to con­


cede late on in games is some­ thing the Clitheroe boss is more than aware of: “We let two late goals in again after we


though, I ’m a big believer that the team who concede the least goals at the end of the season will probably win the league.” He added: “I t is something


we are working on as we can’t really be letting two goals in each week, as it won’t be every time that we can score four or five goals ourselves, so we need to keep a clean sheet. “Obviously the four good


goals before half-time should really have killed the game oft. "It is disappointing to con


coSiinyi Dis ,sfuvic&//V/ PHONE: 01282 424041


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Thursday, January 22nd, 2004 38


In association - with


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livincing victory,' and it looks like, this year’s title race,could go right down to the wire. The Blues now face'threcj


Lee Sciilphcr


cede like we did, but on a posi­ tive note we played some good football, so I was delighted with our overall performance


really.” On the injury front


Clitheroe have almost got a full-strength squad back for Saturday’s showdown with Bacup as Russell Clark is now available again after returning from suspension. Sculpher is also hoping that,


both Andy Cowking and Gary Jackson will be fit to make the squad by the end of the month, given that they they are now back in training. The only new concern is


Barker, who picked up a knock in Saturday’s win, but as he is cup tied for the Bacup tie, he has two weeks to recover for the home clash against Con­ gleton.


Saturday will sec Bacup Bor;, ’ ,


CLITHEROE kept' the pressurql on Mossley with Saturday’s conr.-;


tough games which coiild go.a; long way to dccitling their, sea-’' son.


ough at; Shawbridge for the; League Cup Quarter-Final.’’' . • ".'Having got to the final at Gigg Lane, Bury, last season, the club; will be confident of progressing. 'With Glyn.Barker unavaiL^


'- -The likes of Neil Spencer anil; Glen Ainsworth could well find. themselves back in first team; action this weekend.' ■ >/ The next two league games;


able, having played for Ramsbot.^1 tom already, in this competition j' it will provide an opportunity for; Lee Sculpher to look at differenti options up front.


will also be interesting against another couple of teams that; have been in.good form oyer recent weeks.


bridge a week on Saturday, arid then the.week after the Blues travel to Woodley Sports.; v‘.< ■ Uongleton have had a good


Congleton Town visit Shaw^ , ' -' .. ■'rj


run in the FA Cup and FA Vase, and as a result have played less league games than-most other teams.


• However .theyj have.; still . ' ' ]


recorded some excellent results, and could climb rip to third place; should they win all.of ;their


games in hand.' ■ • After a good start to the.sea-, son,' many' people expected


Woodley to slip back down the table, but they have hung on ;at


Jhat'a'victory.over^Clitheroe, vw'ould.p'ut'jhcrii'rightbackliiitol


the top of the league and still find themselves in third place.|;' V . They’will only;be too aware


the title mix. The supportersyvill also haye


, , "A crowd of "236,,w'cre also treated to'an entertaining 'gairie


ii huge part to play in these three games, and the vocal encourage^ ment against Squires .Gate„was once again superb.. " '


t'of football and solid support, both home "and away, is crucial over the coming months as thq 12th man on the terraces could prove to be just as important as


■ the 11 men on the pitch.;' , A N D Y ALSTON


®


Chatburn back on victory train


C h a lb u r n ....................S


Horton ........................3 CHATBURN got back to winning ways after two defeats dented their pro­ motion dreams. Within 30 seconds of the


kick-off, Horton hit the post, but Chatburn quick­


ly raced into a 3-0 lead with goals from M. Sulli­ van, Sweeney and De’ath. But thanks to two penal­


ties awarded against the locals, Horton pulled the scoreline back to 3-2, before R. Sullivan and Duffy added two more to take the tally to five. Horton grabbed another,


to make it 5-3 going into the break. In the second half, Chat­


burn kicked up the slope, and again goals rained in thanks to M. Sullivan, S. Hodgkinson and Duffy. But oven though the


locals now led by 8-3 they continued to press, and should have had more but for several squandered chances. And in a game th a t


ended with one-way traffic, credit must be given to


Horton as they never gave in.


Sweeney was named


man-of-the-match for Chatburn, and both Rung and debutant De’ath were outstanding.


Villagers on form in dress


rehearsal


Wadding Ion Reserves 4 ~ Ilellifield Reserves . . .1 IN a dress rehearsal of Sat­ urday’s Craven League Third Division Cup clash, ; Waddington earned a much-needed win against fellow strugglers Hellifield at Roefield. Paul Tierney’s first-half


strike separated the sides at the interval, although keeper Wayne Leach kept the locals’ lead intact with a number of excellent


saves. After the break, all three substitutes, Pete Fletcher,


Pete Crossley and Jonathan Dugdale, netted to seal the points tor Waddington, before the visitors scored a late conso­ lation. Hellifield again make the


trip to Roefield on Satur­ day, with Waddington hop­ ing tor a similar result. All players are asked to meet at 1 p.m. ,


fflSifgilffili la s i


By DUNCAN SMITH SARTORIAL style from a bygone age marked the induction of the new captain at Clitheroe Golf


■Club. Ray Ashley drove into office on


Saturday and turned the clock back to the time when the course was designed and built by James Braid in the 1930s. Dressed in period golfing attire,


he started his year by driving in with a hickory-shafted brassie,.


r New club captain Ray Ashley dresses for the part in vintage golfwear to drive in at Clitheroe Golf Club. (C170104/lii)


much to the delight of the members who congregated for hiS; first major role as the new club


captain. As a member of both the British ; _


Golf Collectors’ Society and the James Braid Golfing Society, the captain was pleased to introduce a


touch of nostalgia to the occasion: ■ one of the highlights of my year.’ I am delighted with the response Following the drive-iri, a iriulti mixed shotgun start four-ball ■ ■


and support from everyone, and I am hoping to give members an opportunity to play with hickory clubs in a special tournament at ; Clitheroe later this summer. “I t promises to be great fun and


, stableford was held, followed by ■lunch and prize giving..; • \ In a keenly-contested :,v r,- i;


■ competition; three couples tied with 47 points.


The winners, after a card play-'


off, were Simon Swindells and ■ Connor McLaughlin, followed by seniors secretary Norman -


Entwistle and Eddie McGarry, , and in third place came house chairman Alf England and John Wetton.


SPORTS DESK: Phone 01282 426161 Fax: 01282 439863 e-mail: e!n.spmt@eastlancsnews.co.mc


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