PADIHAM'S ability to get their Arbories Memorial Sports Ground fit for Saturday's encounter with Blackpool Mechanics proved to be worth the effort.

The Storks notched up an important 3-0 home victory over a team that, in recent years, have proved to be one of Padiham's bogey sides.

Padiham scored all the goals in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead on 13 minutes when Chris Bennett was fouled and Paul Barrett tucked home the spot kick.

New signing Vinnie Braine made it 2-0 on 34 minutes when a shot from Bennett was only partly stopped by Mechanics keeper Josh Wood and Barrett pounced on the clearance to score from close range.

Captain Paul Paynter completed the scoring just before half time to give the Storks a 3-0 interval lead.

Bennett missed an excellent chance to increase the lead further on 50 minutes and Martin Parkes headed wide on the hour mark.

Blackpool had more of the play as the game went on, but on the rare occasion that they had a shot on target, Padiham keeper Gavin King proved up to the task, despite picking up an injury early in the game.