THE deadlock could not be broken in an entertaining derby as Bacup and Padiham shared the spoils in NWCL Division Two.

Padiham started off the brighter of the two sides and had a couple of chances to take the lead in the early stages, but couldn't find the final touches on two good crosses.

Bacup hit back with Damien Moran's 25-yard effort just missing the target. Vinnie Pattison and Nicky Taylor went even closer from long range and Jason Lanns headed over.

But Padiham hit back and Robbie Smith tested Bacup keeper Jon Ogden with a well flighted free kick midway through the half.

After the break, Bacup almost found the net when Lanns broke free but, with just the keeper to beat, he missed the target. And three minutes later Pilkington did the same after the Storks forward was set up by by Dean Stowe.

In an end-to-end game, Lanns crashed a shot against Padiham keeper Kirk Marsden while Padiham defender Anthony McCluskey received a short pass from a Smith free kick and shot over.

At the other end the lively Lanns missed the clearest opening of the night when he headed a Moran cross wide.

Padiham bombarded the home side's defence in the final 15 minutes. Pilkington, Craig Wilkinson, Damien Ingham and Stowe all had chances.

And, in the 85th minute, Jamie Edmondson had an effort tipped onto the post and crossbar by Bacup's Ogden.

Bacup almost stole the points at the death when Taylor got free of his marker but shot over with the last opportunity of the game to end an entertaining encounter.

Bacup boss Brent Peters said: "I said at half-time that it was a typical game where we had to grind them down, win our individual battles and we would win the war.

"But we have to start capitalising on our chances.

"Credit to Padiham, though, they worked hard but for long periods they were chasing the game."

RESULT: BACUP...0 PADIHAM...0