PADIHAM manager Graham Howarth believes that things can only get better for his side after the club experienced a high turnover of players in pre-season.

Padiham lost 7-2 at home to Kendal - currently challenging for promotion to Blue Square North - in the Lancashire FA United Co-operative Challenge Trophy on Wednesday and now travel to Eccleshall in the Vodkat League First Division tomorrow.

Haworth said: “It has taken us a bit of a while to get going, we have built the squad almost from scratch and it takes time for the players to gel. But hopefully we can get better from here on in if we can stay clear of suspensions.”

And the Padiham boss expects a tough game when they visit 12th-placed Eccleshall on Saturday, after being on the other end of an eight-goal thriller earlier in the season.

He said: “Earlier in the season we took the lead three times and ended up losing 5-3, and it’s a massive game if we want to try and keep in touch with the teams above us we have to keep on winning.”