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Very nice, excellent endgame ... but I'm baffled by one clue (37A). The wordplay leads to the answer plus an extra R.

Clue is: Awkward girl left after concerning germicide (4: F-R-)

Hi cockie,
Formol with the mol combining with the letters from the crossing 23d (dre)ar giving molar.
For (concerning + mor (a form of mauther an awkward girl) + L (left).

Aha! I had not twigged that the clashes were thematic: having discovered where they had to be I simply blocked them out. I now see that I missed a layer of ingenuity, and will look at them again. Thanks.

I have a full grid , the last word under grid, the relevant 20 cells to highlight, but somehow it doesn't look quite symmetrical??
Comments?

Hi xwordfan, perchance did you "use" me rather than my ?

No i've used my ( even though it should be me??) ....
not symmetrical.. because of the "empty" cells..... or do I have to put something in them
row 3 ISH empty cell(from the clash) ID
row 4 OK
row 5 empty cell ...... O
row 6 OK
row 7 OK
row 8 OK
row 9 D empty cell ..... empty cell
row 10 AFTER

How is it symmetrical?

Hi again xwordfan, I don't have it in front of me but although they're blacked out (rotted teeth ?) if you include them "it" is symmetrical.
Not likely to be home soon but will check and look in later if this doesn't satisfy or no one else comes to your rescue before then.

I see what you mean ... that means I have one of the "empties" in the wrong place... the canine one ...
i had 35a as ORD INE E meeting 25d with MA CAN ESE
but it looks like the clash should be on the last row before A F T E R ??

Thanks ginge ... will wait for you to be at home later...

Ah! Sorted... I had the R on the bottom row, but it needs to go in the row above....now it is ok
Thanks again ginge!!