Padiham

Ground 32

Match 33

F.A. Carlsberg Vase Second Round

Padiham 2-5 Askern Villa

Ground The Arbories

Formed 1878

Ground Capacity 1688

Nickname The Storks

Distance travelled 20 miles

Admission £5

Programme £1

Kick Off Time 3pm Sunny/dry

Attendance 116

View showing Clubhouse Terrace and Grandstand during the 2nd half






Padiham lies on the River Calder , 3 miles West of Burnley and South of Pendle .
Not to difficult to find , its only a mile or so from the M65 motorway . Narrow streets lead to the ground past the Hare and Hound public house , i parked opposite the West Street sign on a cobbled road . There's a reasonably sized car park next to the ground but i decided to walk the short distance to avoid any chance of being blocked in later on . The turnstile is located at the top of the inclined street next to the car park .












First impressions are good , people are friendly and as i entered the ground i saw a contrast of old and new . It has plenty of character and charm with a new clubhouse , an older standing part covered terrace behind one goal , main grandstand , grassed banking running the length of the touchline opposite the clubhouse , bus shelter style dugouts , open air gents toilet in the far corner . You can see progress has been made ; it's a groundhoppers dream . I was warmly welcomed by the locals and staff . Programmes are excellent value at £1 with plenty of information , large bold print , reports , photos , facts/figures on the opposition , several glossy pages . At any level it's very affordable and a credit to the club .

Today's opponents are Askern Villa ( formerly Askern welfare ) from the Northern Counties East League Division One , currently second bottom . They've already knocked out three clubs including Silsden so they're no mugs .



Indeed , Villa start brightly like the mid-afternoon sun , creating several opportunities without finding the net . Padiham are slow out of the 'blocks' and don't seem to reach second gear . Villa's tall , long legged , long neck number ten provides a lynch pin and magnet for their sorties forward . He's a bit of a Terry Sheringham type , ambles around the left flank nonchalantly but to a trained eye , he's going to be a thorn in the side of the ' Stork's ' if they don't start shaking him off the ball . Most attempts to tackle him fail , when he's eventually knocked off the ball , free kicks are awarded for infringements .



Villa take a deserved lead but fail to add to their tally before conceeding a penalty which is netted by Padiham . The Storks are in the ascendancy and punish Villa again with a low drive into the net . Half-time arrives at the right time for Villa , after a bright start , they've drifted away with the midday sun .
Half Time - Padiham 2-1 Askern Villa .











Askern show their intentions after the restart and pin the Storks into their own half , eventually the pressure reaps reward with a well deserved equaliser .
Padiham find it difficult to make progress and Villa take the lead with their third goal . The next goal is so important and its Villa who find the net yet again to make it 4-2 . Padiham manage to put a few moves together and are unlucky with a shot from the edge of the box that rattles the crossbar . Another chance goes begging for the Storks soon after , in added time Villa complete the second half rout .
Scintillating stuff from Villa but credit to both sides for providing excellent value for money .




Padiham More Photos Nov 19 2011">