Padiham 2, Blackpool Rovers 0 PADIHAM ended their 1996-7 season with a 2-0 win over Blackpool Rovers reserves at the Arbories - but the victory was not enough to give them the West Lancashire League division two title.

The Storks lost out on goal difference to Fleetwood Hesketh after the two rival teams finished on equal points.

Padiham needed to win by a bagful of goals against Blackpool if they were going to pip Fleetwood to top spot. But on the day they found that their opponents were in no mood to give anything away.

It was a scrappy encounter and a frustrating first half led to a 0-0 half-time scoreline. In the second period, the Storks eventually broke the deadlock when Steve Whitehead headed them ahead on 73 minutes. Geoff Holgate added a second two minutes later.

ZA combined team of ex-Clarets and former Burnley Bank Hall players are lined up to take on a Padiham XI at the Arbories on cup-final day, May 17 (kick-off: 1pm).

The match will bring down the curtain on what has proved to be a very successful season for the Storks.

The club have won promotion to division one of the West Lancashire League and, as well as winning the Hospital Cup in October, reached the final of the Lancashire Adidas Amateur Shield and the West Lancashire League President's Cup.

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