Storks ease through into next round of the FA Vase

This was a game that promised goals right from the start, but the supporters had to wait until the second half before they arrived.

The home side had their goalkeeper James Dawson to thank for keeping the Priorymen in the cup tie for as long as he did.

Starting with a finger tip save from a seventh-minute Joseph Whittington effort until eight minutes into the second half, Dawson was unbeatable.

His saves kept out a Kieron Pickup curler from the edge of the box and a close range header from James Dean, and an incredible back post stop to turn a Whittington header away for a corner were the pick of many first half stops the home keeper produced.

While at the other end, Padiham keeper Michael Donlon also had his moments, keeping out a close range header from Thomas Bligh on eight minutes, and making an even better stop just before the break when he kept out a close range shot by Thibault Charmey.

The second half started with Padiham continuing to create openings, but once again they came up against an in-form Guisborough keeper, who kept out efforts from Pickup and Whittington before eventually being beaten when a screamer from Pickup crashed into the net via the underside of the crossbar on 53 minutes, to put Padiham one up.

Guisborough’s response saw Charmey head a left wing cross wide on 55 minutes, and then fail to hit the target with an opportunity five minutes later, while Padiham’s Whittington had a shot saved and another attempt fly over the bar, sandwiched in between Charmey’s two efforts.

Dawson continued to frustrate the Storks’ front men when he forced Dean to shoot wide in a one on one encounter on the hour mark, while Charmey kept some hope for the home side alive with a shot that Donlon did well to save by the foot of his post.

A Mark Coyne cross on 71 minutes was headed wide by Padiham substitute Aaron Taylor, before Padiham eventually clinched their passage into the next round when Taylor went one better with a close range tap in, after Dean’s shot had been palmed into his path, following yet another save by Dawson on 79 minutes.

Dean concluded the afternoon’s scoring when he forced in a teasing Coyne cross on 85 minutes, and in added on time Dawson made one more save to keep out a Coyne shot with his legs.

Padiham’s third clean sheet in a row was down once again to the centre half pairing of Brandon Barski and Marc Young, who along with full backs Tom Bradley and kieron Demaine on this occasion look like a well-organised hard to beat unit.

l On Thursday, November 24th, Padiham FC host their annual sportsmans’ dinner at Turf Moor.

Guest speaker is Micky Quinn, and the comedian is Paul Boardman.

Tickets are £30 from Alan Smith (Padiham FC secretary) on 07775717698 or 01282 771963 for further details.