AFTER an opening spell of spluttering and stuttering, Padiham got their act together and eased themselves comfortably into the last 16 of the Hollands Challenge Shield, with a deserved win over Preston and District League Premier Division side Whitbread Samlesbury.

Whitbread, who had disposed of three West Lancashire League Division One sides already in this competition, approached the game in buoyant mood and for the first 20 minutes looked more than capable of holding their own.

Whitbread made their presence felt with two good efforts from Anthony Connolly that went close, and with Tony Reid, their big bustling centre forward, more than happy to mix it with Padiham's central defenders Graham Haworth and Jamie Edmondson, you could see why they had made such an impact against seemingly superior opposition.

But Padiham are a much more solid and resilient outfit these days and once Vince Overson and Shaun Kendall stamped their authority in midfield the home side took control and went ahead with a well taken goal from Anthony McClusky on the half hour.

Collecting the ball outside the penalty area, McCluskey side-stepped a defender and hit a well-flighted shot over the head of Whitbread keeper Andy Pollitt, into the top right hand corner.

Padiham, now firmly in the driving seat, had numerous chances to increase their lead but the woodwork denied Martin Fletcher and McClusky failed to hit an empty net from six yards out, after Pollitt had palmed away a John Harrison shot that looked destined to curl in at the far post. As Padiham continued to labour in front of goal, Whitbread hit them on the break to level the score with a good opportunist goal from Joe Nagy, whose snap shot beat Bobby Harris from close range.

It proved to be little more than a minor irritation and within minutes Padiham were level with a goal that alone was worth the entrance fee.

John Harrison, displaying subtle ball skill, beat his defender and hit a great cross to the penalty spot for the lurking McCluskey. A poor first touch from McCluskey allowed Pollitt time to smother the striker's bungled attempt, but before the bewildered Pollitt could retrieve the loose ball, Harrison had raced 25 yards and buried it into the back of the net.

After the break Padiham continued to dominate the game but again poor finishing overshadowed an otherwise commanding performance from the home side who never looked in danger of conceding another goal.

At the back Haworth and Edmondson performed with complete assurance, Haworth providing the steel in the air and Edmondson cool and competent on the deck. Overson's presence in midfield, despite his lack of fitness, provides Padiham with a wealth of experience and know-how that can only benefit those playing around him. If the ex-Burnley man is determined to get himelf back to his best fighting weight and fitness, then he will be a great asset to the club and the younger players striving to establish themselves.

None more so than Martin Fletcher, who turned in an excellent performance after being drafted in from the reserves and scored Padiham's third goal to seal a well deserved victory.

Fletcher was first to pounce on a blocked free kick and from the edge of the penalty area hammered home a strike that beat Pollitt and more than compensated for the shot that struck the post in the first half.

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