IT proved to be a winning return to the Anchor Ground for the former Darwen and now Padiham manager Steve Wilkes on Saturday as the Storks came away with all three points from their North West Counties League Division Two derby fixture.
In a hectic start to the game early chances fell to Padiham's Neil Almond, who shot over, and Stuart Telfer, who fired across the face of the home side's goals. Neil Zarac then forced Storks keeper Rob Batty into a save on 10 minutes, but for the majority of the half Padiham were on top.
Craig Chadwick went close with two well flighted free kicks before Denny Khan finally breached the Darwen defence with a close-range header from Neil Almond's cross on 32 minutes.
Darwen's best period of the first-half came in the last few minutes when a series of corners led to a 25-yard shot from Joe Anderson flashing just wide.
Padiham continued to have the upper hand after half-time with shots from Derbyshire, Telfer and Almond all testing Darwen keeper Andrew Morris before Khan added a second on 64 minutes to make it 2-0.
Paul Aldred replied for Darwen in the home side's next attack, heading in an Anderson cross to reduce the deficit, but as quickly as Darwen had snatched a goal back Padiham did excactly the same at the other end when Telfer went on a mazy run and cracked in the Storks third to give Padiham their 3-1 winning margin.
Wilkes celebrates a winning return
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