PADIHAM powered their way to a season's best 5-0 home win over North West Counties Football League Division Two basement side Castleton Gabriels.

Dean Stowe scored a hat trick and the other two goals came from substitute John Harrison.

Chances came one after another in the first half, but only a fifth minute headed goal by Stowe separated the two teams at half time.

Padiham's lead was doubled three minutes into the second half when Stowe clinically finished off a pitch-length move by the Storks and in the 77th minute John Harrison made it 3-0.

Three minutes later Stowe completed his hat trick with his best effort of the afternoon and a minute after that Harrison rounded off the scoring when he converted a Steve Yeoman cross.

This was a comprehensive win for the Storks who could and should have doubled their winning margin if they had shown a little more composure in front of goal.

Castleton's best efforts came in the first half when Matthew Duddy hit the Storks' crossbar with a close-range shot and Mark Dunning and Mark Baxendale had shots that kept Padiham keeper Kirk Marsden busy.

PADIHAM...5

CASTLETON GABRIELS...0