Our day at non league football

Last updated : 06 September 2010 By Tony Scholes

There were three former Clarets on show for the home side, all of whom have played in our youth team over recent years. The two full backs were Ben Hoskin and Tom 'Chopper' Bradley and up front was Padiham's latest recruit Cayne Hanley who, back in 2005, made the substitute's bench for Burnley's league game against Preston at Deepdale.

Padiham had been an all day destination with the youth team game at Gawthorpe taken in first before the journey up the hill to the Arbories and, after the morning 2-2 draw there were soon more goals.

Against the run of play, Damien Morrison gave Padiham an early lead and it was a lead they kept until just before half time when Astley Mulholland equalised from the penalty spot. It was no more than they deserved. They'd been the better side and there was worse news for Padiham when Hoskin was forced off with a knee injury.

Half time refreshments included pie & peas and a drink, and certainly Football League clubs could learn from them when it comes to pricing. I'm told a pie at Wembley the night before cost £8. Here, with peas and a choice of condiments the price was just £1.50.

They'd hardly been digested when Mulholland struck again, just five minutes into the second half and at that point a Flixton win was definitely on the cards.

Then the game changed round as Padiham finally got a grip on things. Andy Haworth equalised on the hour and five minutes later they were in front when Hanley, who had been quiet, scored with a stunning strike to give the home side the lead.

Paul Fildes extended the lead with a quarter of an hour go and got his second six minutes from time with a superb effort and suddenly Padiham were strolling it at 5-2.

Flixton did add a late third from Brian Matthews to give the game a final score of 5-3, and in the end it was a thoroughly deserved win by Padiham that takes them fifth in the table.

There were 159 at the game. It cost £5 admission (concessions were £2 I was told) and the match programme was £1.

It was another enjoyable day at non league football, and one I'll definitely be repeating during the next international break in October.

Padiham wasn't the only non-league ground to have visitors from Clarets Mad yesterday, and the games I'm aware that people attended were:

Alsager Town 1 Barnoldswick Town 1
Bacup Borough 3 Nostel Miners Welfare 1
Barwell 2 Grantham Town 1
Bishops Stortford 1 Farnborough 4
Burscough 0 Retford United 1
Clitheroe 2 Skelmersdale United 2
Colne 4 Formby 3
Frickley Athletic 2 Marine 3
Frome Town 0 Hungerford Town 1
AFC Fyle 5 Harrogate Railway Athletic 2
Garforth Town 2 Lancaster City 4
Guiseley 3 Redditch United 1
Harrogate Town 2 Hinckley United 2
Holbeach United 6 Burton Park Wanderers 3
Lewes 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough 2
Mickleover Sports 2 FC Halifax Town 3
Pershore Town 2 Leek CSOB 1
Silsden 1 Tow Law Town 2
Spalding United 3 Newcastle Town 3
Tempest United 1 Thornton Cleveleys 1 (Thornton won 3-0 on penalties)
Winsford United 0 Rossendale United 0
Workington 2 Solihull Moors 1