TWO controversial sendings off halted Padiham's hopes of leap-frogging Janesville and returning to the top three of the league.

Anthony Norney was dismissed for an innocuous looking challenge while Lee Wilton received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

The referee followed the letter of the law but considering the terrible conditions a ticking off would have done. In the end it changed the outcome of a very good game. Up until that point, Padiham - who had already beaten Janesville twice in their two previous league encounters - were holding their own despite trailing 2-1.

Dwain Knappit had put Padiham ahead before the break when he controlled a cross into the area and toe-poked the ball home.

But playing with the wind, Janesville equalised when Daniel Embley cut inside his marker to crack a shot past Billy Bleasdale.

Embley had earlier showed his shooting power when he tested Bleasdale with a shot straight from the kick off.

But Bleasdale showed a safe pair of hands to hold onto the tricky shot.

It wasn't the only good save the keeper was to make and Padiham were glad to see him back after a month out with a broken thumb.

However make one mistake as a keeper and it could prove costly - and it was. There appeared to be no danger when Embley's soft free kick was rolling Bleasdale's way. But the keeper let the ball roll through his legs, managed to knock it on to the post only to see substitute Kieron Barker slide in to score. Padiham were then down to 10 men when the referee thought Norney's late challenge warranted a red card.

They nearly drew level soon after when the hard-working Fran Harwood sent a ball into the box and, in the ensuing muddle, Knappit rolled a ball inches wide.

Embley turned provider again when Janesville went further ahead. His superb flick on fell right into the path of Nick Burton who took one touch before planting his shot beyond Bleasdale.

Wilton was the second Padiham player to leave the pitch early when his trip on Danny Caton earned him a second yellow card.

And Barker piled on the agony when his strong run down the left ended with a crisp drive across Bleasdale to score.

In fairness to Padiham they continued to fight for every ball and they pulled a goal back through Harwood - and it was just what he deserved.

The wide man came in field and picked the ball up just outside the area. He did well to beat the last defender and even better to waltz around the keeper to score.

It was a very well taken goal but a little too late to launch a Padiham comeback.

And just to make sure it didn't, Embley rounded off a fine individual display of his own when he beat two Padiham defenders to score.

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