Padiham hit four to maintain impressive run of form

Debutant goalkeeper Maxwell Povey made an instant impact on the game, saving a 12th-minute Rhys Clooney penalty to give the Storks a platform to build on, five minutes after Padiham’s leading goalscorer James Dean had hit the bar with a 30-yard dipping shot at the other end.

Kieron Pickup and Aaron Taylor both went close with efforts, before Padiham opened the scoring on 25 minutes, after a ball in from Chris Turner and a mix up in the visitors’ defence saw the ball some how find its way to Garry Hunter, who headed in from close range to give the Storks a 1-0 half-time lead.

Padiham doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Pickup’s pull back found its way into the visitors’ net, via a Maine Road defender, to make it 2-0, and on 66 minutes the Storks found themselves further ahead after Aaron Taylor did well to get his head onto a deep cross from Ashley Brierley and direct the ball out of the reach of Maine Road keeper Ryan Livesey to make it 3-0.

The visitors’ contribution to the game was rewarded with 15 minutes to go, pulling a goal back from the penalty spot through substitute Ryan Steele, but within two minutes of the restart, Padiham restored their three-goal advantage and secured the points when they were also awarded a penalty which Dean converted to give Steve Wilkes’ side their 4-1 victory.

Padiham are at home again this Saturday when Congleton Town are the visitors to the Arbories for a NWCL Premier Division clash, kick-off 3 p.m.