KIRKHAM & WESHAM'S leading scorer Sean Paterson glanced in his 19th goal of the season at Padiham last night and then took a knock to his right knee which threatens to keep him out of action for some time.
Paterson's neat touch came after only eight minutes play when Kirkham were awarded a free-kick out on the left after full-back Tony Keefe had been bundled to the ground.
Paul Eastwood curled a tantalizing kick into the area and Paterson rose to deftly head home and put the visitors in front.
advertisement
Defender Andy Howarth had the best chance to pull Padiham back into the contest after 26 minutes but his shot was deflected wide through a mass of legs and when the home keeper Gavin King handled the ball outside of his area just after the half hour, Kirkham must have thought an even bigger breakthrough had arrived.
But Burnley official Mark Corns gave the Padiham number one the benefit of the doubt and no card, not even yellow was shown.
But the game really came to life just after half-time when Kirkham's Mike Clark found substitute Matt Shaw with a long through ball and he just fired wide, and moments later he got on the end of another chance initially set up by a Phil Thompson header which was parried out by King only for Mark Wane to clip back into the danger area and there was Shaw to celebrate his league
debut with a goal - a low right foot shot on the half volley.
While Thompson doubtless set up the second goal he almost cost his side one at the other end on 68 minutes when a rare slip let in Padiham danger man Neil Almond - but he fired wide.
But as the clock ticked down Padiham dramatically almost snatched a point when Almond was fed in by winger Stuart Telfer a minute from time and curled a shot high and wide of Peter Summerfield in the visitors goal.
The strike inspired the home side and when Kirkham's Jon Moffatt took one full in the face in injury time stood on the line, Kirkham's late jitters almost cost them two points.
Boss Mick Fuller said: "Not too bothered how we played tonight after the Vase game at Crowborough.
"Three points is what tonight was all about and I'm pleased about that.
"They worked hard and it's three more points.
"There's concern about Paterson but we will just have to see how his knee reacts after the swelling goes down.
"I'm short of strikers on Saturday - so there will be changes."
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Submit your event for free. Click 
Print
Email this
Comment
