AFTER a shaky start to the NWCL Division Two fixture at Leek CSOB on Saturday and the shock of conceding an early goal, Padiham showed a lot of character to battle their way back.

Lee Fower put Leek ahead after only five minutes, Danny Wright tested Storks keeper Kirk Marsden seven minutes later and after 24 minutes Mark Tueart flashed a shot just inches wide of Padiham's upright to give the visitors a scare.

By now Padiham had settled to the pace of the game and equalised in the 32nd minute when Ian Pilkington finished off a Robbie Smith pass just inside the 18 yard box to make it 1-1.

That took his goal tally to 18 for the season.

In the second half Padiham looked the better side and if John Harrison had converted just one of three good openings, then the Storks could have been celebrating a win instead of a draw.

Andrew Kelly at centre half and Ian Whittaker in midfield stood out for Padiham in what the record books will show was the Storks first-ever fixture against the Leek side.

LEEK CSOB...1 PADIHAM...1

PADIHAM are away to Cheadle Town on Tuesday night, kick off 7.45pm.