PADIHAM came back from being a goal down after three minutes and a man down after 28 minutes to draw 1-1 with Darwen at the Anchor Ground on Saturday to end 2002 in second place in the North West Counties Football Leauge Second Division a point behind Maine Road.

Matt Anderton gave the home side a perfect start heading Darwen ahead after only three minutes. Martin Thompson went close to an equaliser on 12 minutes when only the agility of the home side's keeper Lee Purvis kept out a snap shot on the turn by Padiham's young striker.

Then it was the turn of referee Mr John Marsden from Liverpool to take centre stage. What looked a foul on Padiham's leading goalscorer Ian Pilkington by Darwen keeper Purvis was somehow interpreted as a dive by Pilkington and instead of awarding a penalty the referee awarded Darwen a free kick and administered the red card to Pilkington for voicing his opinion of the official's decision.

Padiham were down to 10 men for the second time in three days, but they adapted well. Darren Fullard for Padiham and Scott Derbyshire for Darwen both tested their opposing goalkeepers, but the best chance of the remainder of the first half fell to Padiham's Martyn Thompson who miscued in front of an open goal.

Darwen's Denny Khan reciprocated this miss by an equally glaring off-target effort himself in the opening minutes of the second half to give Padiham a let-off and the opportunity to get back into the game.

Lee Purvis denied Padiham midfield player John Harrison with a good save midway through the half, but could do nothing to prevent the Storks drawing level in the 80th minute when Dean Stowe scored from the penalty spot.

The last 10 minutes proved frenetic with Lee Purvis denying Fullard a winner for Padiham and at the other end Kirk Marsden stopping Darwen's Paul Baker from securing Darwen the win.