PADIHAM maintained their unbeaten start to the season on Saturday with a 1-1 away draw against Cheadle Town but returned home disappointed that they could not beat the Cheshire side and hang on to pole position in NWCL Division Two.

Title rivals Maine Road leapfrogged the Storks following their 3-1 win against Darwen and now lead Padiham by one point, proving just how important it is to pick up maximum points whenever the opportunity arises.

Against Cheadle the Storks started well enough hitting the post in the fourth minute and going into the lead three minutes later when a Martyn Thompson cross was helped on by Harrison and Ian Pilkington fired home from close range.

But that was as good as it got for the Storks with Cheadle able to frustrate Padiham's attempts to get a second and equalise themselves in the 70th minute when Phil Taylor raced on to a long clearance by his keeper Dave Raynor and slam home a shot past Storks keeper Kirk Marsden.

CHEADLE TOWN...1 PADIHAM...1