PADIHAM forward Paul Fildes made it 23 goals in yet another productive season as he bagged a brace to damage the promotion hopes of Barnoldswick Town on Saturday.

The striker, who turned 30 earlier this month, has for years had that happy knack of being in the right place at the right time.

And his goal exploits, naturally, capture the headlines.

But there is more to the Storks than Fildes. His double fired Padiham into sixth spot in the Vodkat League Premier Division and condenmed Barlick to a third loss in four games – but the 3-0 win was about more than just the striker.

Boss Craig Chadwick has assembled an excellent Padiham team with goalkeeper Sean Davis in form. In fact, had Davis not twice saved impressively from Neil Chapman it could easily have been different.

But Padiham were worth their win against an injury-hit Barlick side.

The Storks took the lead through Fildes, although the goal will not make it into the striker’s list of all-time greats as his 20-yarder took a wicked bounce to deceive Barlick keeper Chris Thompson.

Barlick pushed for a leveller and were convinced they should have been awarded a penalty when Russell Clarke’s header from a corner appeared to be stopped on the line by a Padiham hand.

Hollindrake was denied by Davis but Thompson tipped Damien Morrison’s piledriver away as Padiham searched for a second before the break.

They got that second shortly after the restart as the Barlick defence failed to pick up Jordan Hulme, who headed home Ed O’Neill’s smart cross and it was Padiham’s game to lose.

Fildes then broke clear and tricked his way into space seven minutes from time to make it 3-0 – and there was no comeback from Town.