Clitheroe FC vs Workington Preview
Simon Garner’s Clitheroe side welcome Evo-Stik League Northern Premier League side Workington AFC to Shawbridge this weekend as the sides meet in the 1st qualifying round of the FA Trophy. Clitheroe will meet the side that are a division above them on the back of four wins in a row in league and cup and only one defeat in their last nine games. Earlier in the month the Blues beat Lancashire rivals Droylsden 3-2 to secure this home tie against Workington and a bumper crowd is expected to cheer on the boys in this weekend’s clash.
Clitheroe’s last victory in the league came on Tuesday night at home to Harrogate Railway Athletic. A win that moved them up to 10th in the table, six points away from the play-off places. The way the team is currently playing, it would definitely not be impossible for the home side to cause a shock against a side that in the past have been one of the dominant forces in non-league football. At home this campaign the Blues have only lost one game way back in August to Bamber Bridge and having picked up maximum points in their last two fixtures at Shawbridge Simon Garner and his backroom staff will be looking to progress through to the next round.
Workington AFC on the other hand managed by former Barrow and Kilmarnock player Gavin Skelton were relegated from the Conference North last season and currently sit 13th in the Evo-Stik North Premier League, seven points away from the play-off places. Manager Skelton still plays an influential part in The Reds side and his experience has helped his side win their last two league games including coming from two goals down to win 3-2 in midweek against Curzon Ashton. The Cumbrian side have been impressive at the back with the third best defensive record in the league. However they have only hit the net fifteen times which is the worst in their respective league and the Clitheroe defensive will have to stay strong and fight against complacency.
Clitheroe’s manager Simon Garner is excited about the thought of a cup run starting with a win against Workington AFC and told the website he can’t wait for Saturday to come; “I am definitely excited. We are on a really good run and confidence is high at the moment. Obviously Workington are a huge club on the non-league scene and in the past have been a league team too so it will be a tough game and a huge scalp to beat them. We are on a great run and we will do all we can to get the win and progress to the next stage of the trophy.”

Despite climbing up the league, Garner would like a cup run and told the site a victory would be a positive whether it is in the league or cup; “It’s a catch 22 really. If we win we carry on the confidence and the good run that we are on. While we are winning then as a management team we are incredibly happy. Confidence around the dressing room is great at the moment and we want to carry that on. I am overjoyed but more than that very proud of the boys.”

Recent signing Jason Hart is cup tied for the game after already featuring in the competition for Padiham earlier in the season. Goalkeeper Andrew Dawber will serve the last game of his suspension and Zak Hibbert formerly of Warrington Town FC is set to sign to play the game in place of Dawber. Garner’s last comments were; “We have an abundance of talent on the bench that just can’t get a game because of how well the other lads are playing. They are kicking the door down but I will have to see over the next few days what happens for the cup.”