Storks soar to victory over struggling Cammell Laird

Dominic Craig scored in the first minute on his return to the Storks line-up and this was quickly followed six minutes later with another goal from leading goal scorer James Dean who cleverly chipped visiting keeper Dave Parkinson from some distance to double Padiham’s lead.

Cammell Laird’s first attempt on goal arrived on 14 minutes when a long range shot by Joe Byrne needed Michael Donlon to save low down.

Aaron Taylor failed to turn in a square ball to him from Dean on 22 minutes and then had a goal disallowed before Marc Young headed wide from a Gary Hunter cross shortly after.

The Storks continued to probe before the break as Chris Turner fired over the bar before the midfielder had another attempt saved by Parkinson.

Club captain Martin Parkes replaced Brandon Barski during the interval and celebrated his return after injury with a headed goal from a Hunter cross on the hour mark to make it 3-0.

That was the breakthrough that the home side craved as Taylor had earlier failed to extend the lead when blazing over from close range while Turner fired across the face of goal.

Kieron Pickup shot just wide in another Padiham attack and at the other end Joel Douglas missed the target on two occasions as the away side tried to pull a goal back.

It didn’t happen, though, and with five minutes remaining Dean added a further goal to his tally when Parkinson slipped whilst trying to keep out Dean’s left wing ball into the box, allowing the ball to find its way into the net to take the scoreline to 4-0.

The game descended in to chaos after a reckless challenge on Padiham full back Ashley Brierley in time added on, resulting in a mass confrontation between both sets of players.

Eventually Cammell Laird’s Charlie MacInness and Storks stopper Donlon were dismissed after referee Elliott Swallow resolved the situation.