Squires Gate 1 Padiham 2: Late penalty signals second defeat for Gate

In Gate’s first competitive game for seven months at the Brian Addison Stadium, a crowd of 110 saw Luke Evans start with the same 11 edged out 3-2 at Congleton Town on Saturday, with 16-year-old Tom Smith among the substitutes for the first time.

It was the only premier division game not to be postponed on Tuesday due to Covid restrictions or waterlogging and the visitors started on the front foot, with Ben Ashton’s effort tipped on to the bar by Gate keeper Jordan Gidley inside two minutes.

Padiham made their early dominance pay as they opened the scoring on six minutes. Willem Tomlinson found space behind the Gate defence and squared the ball to Dom Craig, who tapped into the empty net.

Gate almost bounced back from a corner as Cameron Gourley’s header rebounded off the bar and the ball was cleared off the line before James Boyd fired wide.

Boyd soon made amends with a superb equaliser on 13 minutes. Striker Elliot Pond held the ball up well and laid it off for Boyd to drive low into the corner with his left foot.

Gate continued to press and Andy Haworth had a strong effort well saved after a driving run through the defence, then Boyd volleyed a deep cross over from a tight angle.

Gourley could only poke his shot straight at the keeper after Josh Pollard’s free-kick caused havoc in the Padiham area, then Haworth saw a header held by the keeper as the half ended at 1-1.

Gate kept the visitors under pressure from the restart as Haworth’s powerful effort was deflected over the bar.

Boyd shot straight at the keeper after being released by Pond, who then had a fine shot on the turn well saved.

Padiham had chances too as Gidley saved well from Dyland Glass moments after Ben Ashton headed wide from a tight angle.

Saturday scorer Josh Westwood couldn’t hit the target with two chances before Padiham were awarded a penalty against the run of play on 73 minutes.

Ryan Dodd was caught in possession in his own box and tripped Dom Craig in trying to win the ball back, but Gidley produced a smart save to deny Mark Ayres from the spot.

The keeper came to Gate’s rescue again on 86 minutes, making a superb reaction save to keep Tomlinson’s effort out.

Just as it looked like the game was going to end as a draw, the visitors won a second penalty in added time.

Gate were angry to see the referee point to the spot after keeper Gidley challenged Glass, who buried the penalty in the bottom corner to make it four points out of six for Padiham.

Evans’ side will feel hard done by as they prepare to visit Barnoldswick Town on Saturday.

Squires Gate: Gidley, Dodd,Higham,Staunton-Turner (c), Westwood, Gourley, Haworth, Pollard, Pond, Ramwell, Boyd; subs: Smith, Garrett, Taylor, Kaye, Baldwin

AFC Blackpool’s game at Bacup Borough was one of three rained off in division one north.