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RUGBY CLUB SLIP TO DEFEAT


-PAGE 47 Thursday,September 28th, 2006 withyour sports team of Edward Lee, Chris Boden, Phil Simpson and Adrian Capstick Adrenaline - fuelled! By Adrian Capstick


Eastwood Town now, when you play a team above, you do it on adrena­ line." It was one of those


defeat to Tommy Lawson's Skelmersdale United, the Clitheroe boss believes there is no better remedy than facing the league's best: "It's a big game, and it couldn't come at a better time. “I just can't wait to play


CHRIS Stammers is pumped up for Saturday's a d r e n a l in e - fu e l le d encounter with UniBond First Division leaders Eastwood Town. After Tuesday's 1-0


there, and I'm just looking forward to earning my money on the training pitch. We'll address it and move on. "Some people see a


the office. We were perhaps due one, as with the levels we've set ourselves, a dip in form doesn't go unnoticed. "The high tempo wasn't


"It was just a bad day at


day, having agreed to an 18 month contract, and Jason Jones is also available for selection, but James Dean and Alan Fitzpatrick are suspended. Dean sat out the


defeat as a crisis, but it's far from it. “To have three defeats in


the league at this stage is better than anyone expect­ ed.


nights against Skelmers­ dale, which Stammers noted: "I just don't think things went for us.


ItS"


• sacked him with a second half winner.


Tommy Lawson returned with Skelmersdale United and left with a smile on his face, having narrowly defeated the club that


Clitheroe...................... O' Skelmersdale V td ........1 HISTORY came hack to bite Clitheroe at Shaw- bridge on Tuesday night. ; Former Blues boss


j' Some would say he was unfairly dismissed back in February, while others believe it was a necessary decision made at a difficult financial time, but whatev­ er your view, Lawson’s Skelmersdale were out for retribution and they got it! Five of the players that


walked out on Clitheroe in support of the manager, leaving the club in dire straits and almost unable to fulfil their next fixture, lined up against tbeir old side, and typically one of them netted the winner. Assistant player-manag­


■'A-


even affair. Noone had made the visitors’ inten­ tions clear with the first attack of the game when the nippy forward turned right back Jamie Nay to force a save at the near post from Alan Fitzpatrick.


er Paul McNally struck the back of the net after good work from the troublesome Craig Noone just after the break to decide the game, but over the course of the match it was Clitheroe who created the better opportu­ nities. The first half proved an


have gone in the dressing room and bawled at them, and I might have done that in the past, but my assistant Ash (Berry) and I have assessed it, and will now get to work." Simon Garner returns from suspension on Satur-


“Some managers would


Latest Clitheroe FC match action Some heavy tackles fol­


lowed, as Kris Matthews and Gregg Anderson came in for heavy treatment, and the battling Anthony Daniels played the remain­ der of the game with a bandaged head. The Blues had a Paul


Lamb goal disallowed from a David Dempsey corner for a push in the box, and Owen Roberts struck the Skelmersdale crossbar with a 25-yard lob. And at the other end,


threatened a second on the counter attack through the lively Noone, right-winger Carl Osman struck the Clitheroe cross bar after Ian Johnson lost the ball in United’s half, and twice


nearly gave the Blues the lead before that goal went in when he forced a smart save from distance out of United keeper Michael Kinsella. Skelmersdale later


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forced off just before the break and replaced by Jeff Underwood, his absence was noticeable for the early second half strike. Craig Sargeson very


injection was missing from CUtheroe’s play, with both Simon Gamer and leading goalscorer James Dean both out through suspen­ sion. And when Anderson was


Fitzpatrick had to be on hand to gather the ball at the feet of Noone, before action returned to the Unit­ ed area where Lamb posed a threat. A much-needed final


Skelmersdale game and completes his three-game ban at Woodley Sports on Tuesday. Both are a loss, but in


hut Fitz has done extreme­ ly well with three clean sheets in recent games, so


it's now up to Peter Collinge to cement a place. “Both are good keepers,


made a welcome return from injury, and it was per­ haps a shame he wasn’t on from the start as he upped the tempo in front of goal. But for aU their running


and effort, an equaliser wasn’t to he for the Blues as Lawson had the last laugh. Clitheroe: Fitzpatrick,


Nay, Roberts, Daniels, Anderson (Underwood), Matthews, Sargeson, Avery, Johnson (Stanford), Lamb, Dempsey (Oates). Alsager T ow n ..........'. .0 Clitheroe........................2 THE rall3dng cry issued by Clitheroe manager Chris Stammers before Satur­ day's game was "we haven't beaten anyone yet." And the response it


brought was positive as a commanding second half performance saw James Dean and Paul Lamb net to give the new Blues boss another victory. Clitheroe have now


Kris Matthews was called upon to make incisive tack­ les to halt the visitors. Substitute Ben Stanford


Stammers' mind no more than anyone else: "People asked me after Tuesday was the defeat down to key players being missing, and I've got to say no. 'Those players are important, but as far as I'm concerned everyone is key. "Fitz is suspended and


club and after all the inter­ est there has been in him from other clubs it's a relief to tie him down, as if they really want him, they'll have to pay. "After the scenario with


tract on Tuesday, which was one of the best things to come out of the night. "He's committed to the


is a doubt for Saturday, while Yakoob Khan is stuggling for full fitness.


Carl and Mark Smitheringale in the papers I'd like to make it clear that the chairman has kept well away from this decision. I wanted him to sign and vice chairman Bob Kay agreed, as I think the way Simon bas played he thoroughly deserves it." Gregg ^derson (ankle)


Peter's got some big boots to fiU. "Simon signed a con­


I > 4 ' SHOWDOWN: Clitheroe Cobras and Read Under 11s prepare to fight it out. S01090B/:i Cobras clinch the title


good start to their first sea­ son in the UniBond First Division. All that changed when


had proven a complete stalemate between the two sides with the only real chance coming from Alsager which they saw cleared from the Clitheroe line, while the Blues were limited to probing balls into the box by right-back Nay. The second half started


Alsager all the sides the club had beaten were facing life at the opposite end of the table, whereas their Cheshire hosts had cut a


their home and away form is identical. Even their highest 3-0 home win is matched on the road. But before this trip to


played eight, won six and lost two to establish a firm place in the top four with this their fifth clean sheet in the league this season. Consistency is key as


substitutes in Jeff Under­ wood, Michael Oates and Dempsey, and Alsager were overpowered by the latter for the second goal. Clitheroe got stronger


in a similar vein until Dean netted and then Chtheroe moved up a gear. Stammers threw on his


and stronger as the home side's energy dropped and Oates could have made it three with a late volley. Clitheroe: Fitzpatrick,


Nay, Gray, Daniels (Underwood), Anderson, Matthews, Sargeson (Dempsey), Avery, Dean, Lamb, Johnson (Oates).


home a pin-point left-wing cross from influential sub­ stitute David Dempsey twomiinutes from time. By contrast the first half


Dean thumped a stunning 20-yard header over the top of "Town keeper Paul McGing in the 61st minute. The British Kick­ boxing champion coiled his neck to power home Jamie Nay's cross. And then Lamb tapped


CLITHEROE Cobras Under 11s A have added the league title to the Knockout Shield they won earlier in the summer - despite losing their last game to Read off the last ball of the game. Batting first, Clitheroe struggled to


make a nett 39, which saw Andy Rams- den make a useful 16. Read lost wickets at regular intervals,


and for a time it looked as though Clitheroe would win. But Read captain Liam Grimshaw had


RIBBLE Valley Under 13s capped a fine season by winning the Merit Cup against Salford District at Whalley Cricket Club. The locals were asked to


bowl first, and in his third over Andy Hutchins of Ribblesdale claimed the prize scalp of Davies, caught behind by Gary Knight of Longridge, div­ ing superbly to his right. Salford were watchful,


and took their time taking the score to 47, until Jamie Gale of Longridge came into the attack, and with his very first ball, he bowled Jackson. Salford started to take


control again with some big hitting, but with the score on 71, Gale struck again, deceiving the bats­ man with a slower ball that was spooned up to Jesse Teague of Lon- giridp at mid-on. Without adding to the


score. Gale again deceived the Salford batsman, and he skied the ball to long on where Teague grateful­ ly accepted another catch. At 71-4, Salford were in


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other ideas as he struck a timely 21 at the end to give the Station Road side victory with a nett 40 score. This was the only game Clitheroe have


lost throughout the season, and they deserved to win the double. All players have contrbuted a lot


throughout the summer to make it a suc­ cessful campaign, and see captain Matthew Ashworth hold the title trophy aloft.


Valley cap fine season in Merit Cup


real trouble, and Ribble Valley were sensing an early close to the innings. There was a run out,


and then Jack Dewhurst of Clitheroe got in on the act by claiming another wicket, clean howled. Salford didn’t have


strength in depth, and Tim Le-Breton of Clitheroe and Max How­ ells of Read mopped up the tail, taking two wick­ ets apiece, with catches from Hutchins and Dewhurst. Salford finished on 102


inside 32 overs, and just couldn’t cope with the bowling and fielding dis­ play of the local side. In reply, the Valley got


off to the best possible start with Gary Knight and Joe Hopkins of Rib­ blesdale putting on 65 for the first wicket, until Hopkins was run out for 18.


Dewhurst joined


Knight, and they took the score to 81 before Knight fell Ibw for an excellent 43. There was then a mini collapse as Dewhurst was


out Ibw for 18, and Gale was bowled without scor­ ing.


Mick Clarkson of Rib­


blesdale eased the nerves scoring a rapid 14 not out, and finished the game and the season off in style, hit­ ting a big six out over deep mid wicket. The boys have had a


fantastic season, and have been far and away the best district team in the North West region, show­ ing the good work being done at the five cricket clubs within the Valley, all of whom had boys playing in the team over the sea­ son. The Ribble Valley


Cricket Forum would like to thank Stonyhurst Col­ lege, and Clitheroe and Whalley Cricket Clubs for the use of their facilities during the season.


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