Padiham win six-goal thriller

The home side had averaged 3.7 goals per game on home soil with Andy Clarkson’s men averaging 3.25 goals away from the Brian Addison Stadium and they certainly didn’t disappoint in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division fixture.

In fact it took Padiham just 80 seconds to get off the mark when skipper Dominic Craig threaded the ball across the face of goal from the right hand side and Spencer Jordan converted from close range.

The visitors, though, were back on level terms four minutes later as Max Rothwell opened his account for the season, guiding a header beyond Marcus Burgess from captain Mike Hall’s corner.

The Storks were back in front before the midway point in the first half when hitting their opponents on the counter attack and striker Danny Boyle applied the finish past Ben Fletcher.

But the home side failed to hang on to their lead again and Gate equalised in the 21st minute. Scott Harries, lauded by Smith ahead of kick off, moved past Benjamin Hoskin with ease and squared for Rothwell who tapped home for his second of the afternoon.

The pendulum swung again and it was the Storks who netted in the 27th minute to restore their lead.

Goalkeeper Fletcher, seemingly expecting a cross, was caught out by Boyle’s set-piece as the ball travelled all the way in to the net.

Harries came within inches of levelling once again in the second half when getting the better of two Padiham defenders only to loose his footing at the pivotal moment and drag his shot wide of the upright.

Gate continued to press but with five minutes of the game remaining it was the Storks who wrapped up the points. Defender Mark Ayres was the man to score it, finishing well past Fletcher after meeting a free kick at the back post.

Padiham, on a run of three successive victories, will now travel to the Select Security Stadium on Saturday to take on second placed Widnes.