Warrington Town 3 Padiham 0

WARRINGTON Town celebrated non-league day with a routine 3-0 win over Padiham at Cantilever Park.

With the Premier League on hold due to the international break, Saturday marked the latest annual event that encourages fans nationwide to support their local team.

Those who made it to this game were treated to a solid performance from the home side, who recorded their second league win of the season.

The game got off to a fairly anonymous start, with neither side able to carve out any clear cut opportunities, Town having two brief glimpses of goal courtesy of a Louis Corrigan shot from 20 yards and Scott Metcalfe’s free kick.

On a relatively pleasant September afternoon, Town were able to get the ball down and play football, and a nice move almost saw Conor Roberts get through on goal from Matt Doughty’s cross.

Despite the home side enjoying much of the play, it was Padiham that forced the first save of the match. The ball fell loose in the box from a corner and Nathan Hudson was quicker to the ball than Metcalfe and managed to get a shot away, which was parried over by Karl Wills in the Town goal.

Minutes later, Sean Davis in the Padiham goal was called in to action for the first time, comfortably saving a Ben Wharton header.

The deadlock was broken three minutes before half time, Corrigan finding the back of the net with a composed finish from just inside the box.

It was nearly a quick fire double for the hosts, as a headed back pass was almost intercepted by Wharton, who glanced his header just wide of the post.

The first chance of the second half should have resulted in Padiham levelling the score, but Paul Fildes headed over from a good position after good work down the right by Spencer Jordan.

Shaun Reid introduced a new signing off the bench before the hour, in the shape of experienced striker Steve Foster, and it almost paid immediate dividends, as Foster had the ball in the net within 30 seconds, only to be flagged offside.

His presence had an impact up front for Town, and Foster carved out another chance for himself minutes later, poking just wide of the far post.

Foster then turned provider, setting Metcalfe away on the counter attack, and as Metcalfe entered the box, he was brought down for a penalty.

The wingman stepped up and put the spot kick right in the goalkeeper’s left hand corner for 2-0.

That enabled the hosts to relax for the remaining 25 minutes, and by the end, they could have had four or five.

As it was, they had to settle for three, with Corrigan adding his second goal five minutes from time with a fine team goal.

Foster, who was impressive, held the ball up down the right and released substitute Phil Davies. He had the vision to then pick out Corrigan on the edge, and the midfielder curled the ball past the goalkeeper.

Another sub, Ben Collins, had a header tipped wide of the post, and hard-working Wharton also had a goal late on, but as it was, Town settled for three and a well deserved three points.

Warrington: Wills, Shinks (Davies), Doughty, Mannix (Collins), McCarten, Hardwick, Corrigan, Roberts, Wharton, Jones (Foster), Metcalfe. Unused: Gahgan, Ruane.

Padiham: Davis, Balazs, Wilkes (Bradley), Haynes, Murphy, Young, Parkes, Hudson (Willoughby), Fildes (Jenkins), Jordan, Mayers. Unused subs: Bromley, Morrison.