PADIHAM's chances of winning promotion to the NWC First Division all but ended last night with a disappointing home defeat.

Only an exceptional sequence of results between now and the end of the season would see the Storks promoted instead Stone Dominoes.

Dean Stowe fired Padiham in front after 20 seconds. But Castleton equalised nine minutes before half time as Keith Tottingham lobbed Storks' goalkeeper Kirk Marsden from the edge of the box.

Ian Pilkington crashed a shot against Castleton's upright in the 68th minute before disaster struck 10 minutes from time.

A through ball split the home side's defence and Mark Dunning raced away to score the winner for Castleton.

PADIHAM ...1 CASTLETON GABRIELS ...2