Manager Simon Garner hasn’t had your average week. In Non-League football, it is not unusual to see players come and go. However, Garner welcome a new member to Clitheroe on Tuesday evening, in the form of Dexter Garner, his new son.

The player-manager can expect many sleepless nights to come. However he hopes good performances from his team will help him sleep easier, knowing his side are prepared for the up-coming Challenge Trophy final a week on Monday.

Garner was due to scout final opponents Chorley, however a call from the Hospital on Tuesday evening changed that, as the 31 year old reflected on a mad couple of hours for himself;

“We gave the lads Tuesday off as a few looked leggy on Saturday and a few where carrying knocks. Myself and Ryan where going to watch Chorley as it is the only time they would play between now and final that we will not be playing at same time.”

“I never managed to get there as my new born son Dexter arrived at 19.07 on Tuesday night but Ryan still managed to attend. From a personal point of view it has already been a great week and I'm still on cloud 9. Hopefully Laura and Dexter will be able to come home at some point today.

Garner added; “The lads will have a good training session tonight and we will prepare well for Saturday.”

Clitheroe have picked up points against the division’s top three and defeated Bamber Bridge in the cup earlier in the season.

The Blues will be looking to keep up this impressive run with three more promotion contenders coming up over the next week, starting with Darlington 1883 on Saturday as Garner went on to say;

“Our form this season against the top sides has been really good. Hopefully this will stand us in good stead in March as every team we play is above us in the league bar one. We will look to win the game as we always do but the fact it's a top team like Darlington bringing a good support should give the lads added impetus.”

“Being quite a young squad does mean we lack a few voices on the pitch, this is improving slowly with experience but I am more than happy if the young players can continue to let their feet do the talking.”

There has been whispers from outside influences that forward Sefton Gonzales has burnt himself out this season, having scored just twice in his last seven games. However, Garner has backed his top scorer to get back to top form and has put a lack of goals down to tiredness…and tiredness only;

“Sefton didn't look at his best on Saturday but I felt he looked very tired. Hopefully this week he will have recharged his batteries and be firing on all cylinders. You cannot question his goal return but he is always looking to improve and I know he could have and will score even more goals this season.”

It’s safe to say the pièce de résistance of the season will occur in eleven days’ time at the Macron Stadium. As Clitheroe find themselves ninety minutes away from their first piece of silverware in eleven years.

Garner on the other hand is focused on taking every game at a time, in the process building up momentum to bring into the final, as he finished by saying;

“I want us to carry good league form into the final at Macron as this will give us confidence. On the other hand I want to ensure the fitness and availability of all the lads going into the game. The final is a one off game and it's about what we do that night. Only the next few weeks will tell us how we have done leading up to that.”