Murphy at the treble as Storks run riot at Barnton

Padiham went on a goal rampage on Saturday, smashing six past Hallmark Security North West Counties Football League Premier Division newcomers Barnton, making it a memorable first-ever visit to the Hinchliffe Holmes Stadium for the the Storks, moving them up to 12th in the league table.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Oct 2016, 16:07 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2016, 17:33 BST
Alex Murphy shows off the matchball after his hat-trick against Barnton on Saturday Picture: @Padiham_FCAlex Murphy shows off the matchball after his hat-trick against Barnton on Saturday Picture: @Padiham_FC
Alex Murphy shows off the matchball after his hat-trick against Barnton on Saturday Picture: @Padiham_FC

An eighth minute own goal by Barnton defender James McShane opened the floodgates, and within five minutes the Storks went further ahead after a foul on Aaron Taylor resulted in a free kick from the edge of the box, which Alex Murphy despatched clinically to put Padiham two up.

Murphy made it 3-0 on 21 minutes with another spectacular strike, after Kieron Pickup had pulled the ball back into his path, and although Lee Vaughan gave Barnton something to celebrate on 29 minutes when he pulled a goal back for the home side, by half-time Padiham led 4-1 after Pickup restored the Storks’ three-goal advantage with a shot under Barnton keeper Matthew Conkie on 43 minutes.

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Padiham went close to adding to their goal tally on 54 minutes when Tom Bradley fired across goal, and again on 56 minutes when Murphy headed a Bradley cross just over the crossbar.

However, on the hour mark the Storks found the back of the Cheshire side’s net for a fifth time when Aaron Taylor headed in a Pickup cross to make it 5-1.

Murphy completed his hat-trick and scored the visitors’ sixth goal of the afternoon on 64 minutes, after a Taylor shot was only partially saved by Conkie, and the Padiham striker followed up to turn in the loose ball.

Taylor nearly added a seventh for the Storks on 75 minutes, but this time the home side had a let off when his effort smashed against the crossbar.

Padiham are in action again tomorrow night against AFC Darwen, kick-off 7-45 p.m. at the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground.

The Storks are then at home to Runcorn Linnets on Saturday, kick-off 3 p.m.