Storks pay penalty as late fightback falls short

Manager Steve Wilkes was also sent off for what was described as misconduct in the technical area by the match referee after the game.

Once again, traffic problems around the ground led to players having difficulties traveling to the game, resulting in the kick-off being delayed for 15 minutes while players of both sides arrived.

Then when the game eventually got under way, the Storks were second best throughout the first half and turned round 2-0 behind, after two well-taken goals by Ashley Woods on 40 and 44 minutes rocked the visitors.

The second half didn`t start much better for Padiham as, on 53 minutes, Woods completed his hat-trick when he turned in a cross from Richard Gleave to make it 3-0.

The Storks pulled one back through Joseph Whittington three minutes later, but their joy was short lived, as, on 58 minutes, substitute Saul Henderson increased the home side’s lead to 4-1.

Padiham hit back themselves on the hour mark through Aaron Taylor to reduce the deficit to 4-2, and Gary Hunter converted a free kick from the edge of the box on 62 minutes to bring the Storks right back into the game.

The game had swung Padihams way in in the space of a few minutes, and when the Storks were awarded a penalty for hand ball, the fight back looked to be on.

That is until home keeper Dean Williams saved Alex Murphy’s 74th-minute spot kick, and four minutes later, Stephen Shaw curled in a well taken free kick at the other end to give the Manchester-based side a 5-3 win.

Padiham are at home to Cammell Laird on Saturday, kick-off 3 p.m.