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Thursday, January 6th, .2005


Byron’s search for firepower is nearly over!


by Adrian Casptick


BLUES boss Paul Byron's hunt for a big centre for­ ward could be completed as soon as Saturday as talks with Witton Albion over Craig Sargeson are back on track. After Monday's 1-0


defeat to Eastwood Town, the Clitheroe chief quickly rushed off to talk to the 23-year-old striker and Albion manager Gary Fin­ ley about releasing him now that the hectic Christ­ mas period is over. The former Rossendale


United top scorer is keen to get playing again after being out injured for most of this season. So far he has only made one appearance for the Northwich side, coming on as a substitute, and sees a loan move to Clitheroe as a great oppor-


:i, tunity to get playing again. After Monday's lack of


finishing, Byron is keen to have him at Shawbridge. He said: “I'm still after


Craig Sargeson and should know soon. “I've talked to Gary Fin­


ley and it's just a case of sorting out terms. “Craig definitely wants


to come and is desperate to play again, but Gary said he needed him as back-up for Monday's game and wasn't prepared to let him


go.


:^NEXT MATCH


Kidsgrove Athletic V Clitheroe


Saturday, January 8th Kick-off 3 p.m.


“I've also spoken to


Atherton LR's Paul Crompton, who was a t Bamber Bridge with me a few seasons ago and plays on the left. He scores goals and is good a t retaining possession and wants to join. “I've had a knock back


or two off a few others, but these two are definites.” Looking back to th a t


home defeat, Byron had mixed feelings about the game but is still hammer­ ing home the message of needing “killer instinct”. He said: “I t was disap­


pointing in the first half, but in fairness to the lads we created chances when we had our backs to the wall, whereas Eastwood struggled to do the same in the second half. “We should have had


another penalty in the first half when Chris Whitting- ham was brought down and had enough clear-cut chances to win two games. “I had a few words with


the lads afterwards, told them that they are a good side but yet again are still not ruthless enough. They seem to accept that they'll get another opportunity to score when, realistically, games only create one or two. He added: “We also need


to make the keeper work more as we hardly hit the target. Gary Jackson had a prime opportunity to score after going clean through, but put his shot consider­ ably wide of the mark, which won't do. “Don't get me wrong


though, i t was very encouraging that we creat­ ed plenty of chances, but we should have won all of our last three games com­ fortably - it can't carry on, we need to be ruthless.” Meanwhile, prepara­


tions tor Saturday's game with Kidsgrove Athletic are bolstered with the news that Chris Nestor returns to the defence, but Byron admits that isn't where the problems lie. “Chris Nestor is back


but I'm largely quite pleased defensively they've not conceded many, Ryan Parr has impressed and the lads that have filled in at left back have done what I've asked,” said Byron. “Paul Stansfield played


there on Monday and he did well. He's now played


in three different positions in three games, which is perhaps not fair, but he has coped well. “Midfield is not an issue


either, it's just that we have a major problem when it comes to goals.” Injuries are at a mini­


mum at the moment and Saturday also sees two sus­ pensions come to an end as both Steve McDonald and Neil Spencer are to return. Kris Richens should also return. “Kris missed Monday's


game because he tweaked a muscle in his back while putting his Christmas dec­ orations back in his loft!” said Bsmm. “I didn't know until the last minute and had to quickly recall Danny Woodhead, who I'd agreed to go on loan to Padiham, but he acquitted himself well though. “Kris should be back for


Saturday, and both Steve McDonald and Neil Spencer are back from sus­ pension. John Paul Fagan has struggled over Christ­ mas due to work commit­ ments, but he should also be back.” However, the Blues boss


has been less than impressed with the lack of substitutes available to him over the last two games. He said: “To have no subs and then just one sub


01282 426161 with your sports team of: Edward. Lee^'Chris Boden, Phil Simpson and Adrian Capstick :


Budweiser Boys aiming for big


cup upset DOG Inn will be looking to cause a major upset on Sunday when they take on Griffin’s Head in the last 16 of the Terry Catter- mole Trophy. The Huncoat side are


riding high in the First Division and were last sea­ son’s losing finalists. However, Dog manager


Simon Kerins believes that his side has what it takes to pull off a shock win: “This is a one-off match and we must focus on our­ selves, not our opponents. “We know it will be very


difficult, but we have improved immeasurably since we last played Grif­ fin’s Head. “We can either write off „


this game in our minds w now, or go to Altham believing that if we play to our potential we have a genuine chance. “And if we do the latter


we could get a very special result.”


Legends set to take


Paul Byron


in our last two games is a disgrace and totally unac­ ceptable at this level. There should be no excus­ es, it's a joke really, as I don't have the options that I need and I c an't have that. “And if players continue


to miss games regularly to such a degree, then per­ haps they should be look­ ing to other clubs.” On a positive note, the new face sat to the right of


Martin Eatough on the Blues bench on Monday was new coach Dave Frog- gatt, who was taking in Shawbridge and the side for the first time. And according to Byron,


the former Bamber Bridge reserve team boss was pleased by what he saw, and already has a few irons in the fire lined up from the local Preston league.


Helping to shed those Christmas pounds! by Phil Simpson


HAVE you been piling on the pounds over the festive period? Well, there is no need to worry,


thanks to the latest initiative from Sport England. The organisation has set up a


special website to help people in the North West shed the post- Christmas bulge. The brand new site - active-


places.com - allows people to find out about sports and fitness facilities in the ir area, with details of over 2,500 gyms and sports venues. Sport England regional direc­


tor Stewart Kellett explained:- “Sport England has developed activeplaces.com to make it easi­ er for people to get active. “The most common New


Year’s resolution is to become fitter and healthier, and our web­


site will help them to do just th a t by providing information on where to go to get active. The work doesn't stop here


either. Sport England will update and extend active- places.com to ensure th a t it remains the authoritative database for sports and recre­ ation facilities across England.” Kellett added: “If you want to


find out about your nearest health club, swimmine nool or


even ice rink, look no further than Active Places. “With the information on


hand, you really have no excuse not to kick-start a healthy and active 2005.” Actiye Places currently holds


data on 2,553 facilities in the North West, including contact numbers, addresses, opening times and accessibility. The website requests the post­ code of the user to be entered.


sporting facilities on the new database includes 46 athletics tracks, 320 golf courses and driv­ ing ranges, 640 health and fitness suites, three ice rinks, nine indoor bowling facilities, 24 indoor ten­ nis centres, 19 ski slopes, 908 sports halls, 509 swimming pools and 75 artificial football oitches.


before bringing up sports and fit­ ness facilities within the local vicinity. The comprehensive list of


centre stage CLARETS legends Willie Irvine and Andy Lochhead will take centre stage at a Football Forum a t the Burnley League Club. The pair will be at the


heart of a question and answer session on Wednes­ day, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at £5


and are available a t the club, with a pie and pea ^ supper included. For more information,


contact Mick Sutcliffe (01200 424020).


^


SPORTS DESK ^ Edward Lee ®


cdward.lce@eastlancsnews.co.uk 01282426161 ext 619


Chris Boden


chris.boden@eastlancsncws.co.uk 01282426161 ext 603


Adrian Capstick


adrian.capstick@eastlancsncw.s.a).uk 01282426161 ext 601


Phil Simpson


philip.sinipson@eastlancsnew.s.co.uk 01282426161CX1602


977096336510201 9 f fUTUJ iw«- ^


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